Two leopards caged in upper Assam

Dibrugarh: Forest authorities put an end to days of terror among the residents and workers of two tea estates in upper Assam, capturing two leopards in seperate localities on Friday.In the first instance, a leopard that had been creating fear among residents and workers of the Megha Tea Estate in the Moran-Nahoroni area of Dibrugarh was captured on Friday morning. The forest department had strategically placed an iron cage in the tea garden four days prior after repeated sightings of the big cat.The capture came a day after an ‘X’ user, Palsah Pratim Buragohain, drew public attention to the matter on May 14, by posting a photograph of the leopard inside the tea garden and tagged CM Himanta Biswa Sarma.On Friday morning, another leopard was successfully trapped in an iron cage at Green View Tea Estate in the Garmur area of Jorhat district. The big cat had long been a source of terror for the residents of the area, repeatedly preying on livestock, including cattle, goats, ducks and poultry. The leopard was finally secured in a cage set up by the forest department.“We have been monitoring the leopard for some time. We are glad that it was captured without any injury to itself or the public. It will receive proper veterinary care before being released safely into its natural habitat,” a forest official said.