Coimbatore : A leopard, which had been creating a scare in the villages surrounding Madukarai forest range for over a month, fell in the forest department trap in the early hours of Wednesday.

The villagers of Karadimadai, Molapalayam and Madukarai were living in fear, following the straying of a leopard which had been killing their goats over the last 40 days.

Based on complaints, department officials placed a cage at Karadimadai to trap the animal. However, the leopard shifted its location to Molapalayam after a few days and another trap, with a goat tied as bait nearby, was kept there a fortnight ago, department sources said.

Villagers woke up to the roaring of leopard this morning. Department officials took the leopard to be released deep in the forest.