Coonoor (Tamil Nadu), Nov 8: Forest officials in Tamil Nadu’s Coonoor town have rescued a trapped leopard and released the big cat into the wilds.

Officials said farmers trapped the leopard, which had strayed into their fields on Thursday.

"On Thursday our officials near the north forest division of Coonoor were informed by the local residents that a leopard had entered their area. We were able to track the leopard, which was caught in a trap placed by a farmer on Friday,” said R. Kannan, Conservator of Forests, southern Coimbatore division.

“The leopard was given anesthesia, its wounds were treated and then released in the forest," added Kannan.

In recent years, incidents of wild animals straying into urban areas have increased owing to loss of habitat and increased human encroachment into forest areas.

In India, leopards are found all over the country. The animal often enters human habitat in search of food.

It is illegal to kill leopards in India, an endangered species found in Africa and Asia and often hunted for fur. (ANI)