Six-year old leopard hunted and cooked in Idukki: 5 arrested

Idukki: Five people were arrested in Mankulam district of Idukki for killing a leopard and eating its meat. The six-year-old animal was caught using traps on Wednesday night under the leadership of Vinod, a resident of Mankulam village.

The traps were set in Vinod's farmlands lying adjacent to the forest area. Forty kilos of meat was procured from the animal's body and some of them were already cooked and eaten. Its claws, teeth and skin which were also removed and set aside for sale were confiscated by the police from his house. The forest officials conducted an investigation based on confidential information about the incident. The animal's skin which was left to dry outside the house caught the attention of the neighbors who allegedly informed the forest department.

According to the Wildlife Protection Act 1972, Leopards are given the highest legal protection in India and only man-eater leopards that are likely to continue preying on humans can be killed.