Estate workers in Valparai in the district, who are living under constant fear due to straying of elephants, have become more panicky, as some of them sighted a leopardess with its cub a couple of days ago.

A herd of elephants created havoc less than a week back, destroying the food items stored in the houses and also damaging the portion of a house in search of food.

Even as Forest officials partially succeeded in preventing the entry of elephants in to the human habitats, an estate worker, Gnanasekaran spotted a leopardess, with its cub, sleeping in front of his house past midnight on Tuesday, police said.

The animal ran away with its baby as Gnanasekaran, along with neighbours, made loud noise to scare them.

However, the workers are living in fear, there is all the possibility of leopardess returning in search of food – goat or other animals. They have appealed to the Forest Department to take immediate action to prevent its entry.