Man killed in suspected leopard attack near Hasanur
A 35-year-old man was killed in a suspected leopard attack near the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve in Tamil Nadu. Local villagers protested to demand better protection and compensation, leading to a government commitment to investigate the incident and address safety concerns.
Why it matters
The incident underscores the ongoing human-wildlife conflict in protected forest areas and the resulting socio-political pressure on forest management.
A 35-year-old man was killed, reportedly by a carnivore suspected to be a leopard, near Hasanur in Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR) on Saturday (October 3, 2026) night.
The deceased was identified as Periasamy of Bungalowthotti village under Hasanur panchayat. According to Forest Department officials, the incident occurred around 1 a.m. near a restaurant building on NH 948.
After Periasamy was reported missing, villagers searched for him and found his body near the forest fringe close to the spot where the incident had occurred.
Villagers staged a protest and initially refused to allow the body to be taken, demanding deployment of more Forest Department personnel for protection, enhanced compensation for the victim’s family, and a visit by a senior Forest Department officer to hold talks with them. They also pointed to previous instances of cattle being killed by a carnivore in the area.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in