Image credit : Illustrative Image

COIMBATORE: About 20 goats were killed following attacks reportedly by leopard and stray dogs in Coimbatore and Tiruppur district.

According to police, six goats, belonging to one Shivakumar, that were tied in a shed were killed by a leopard which strayed in Mettur village in Mettupalayam, 45 km from here.

Hearing the bleat sound, the villagers got up in the early hours and found the the leopard attacking the goats. The leopard ran away after seeing them, police said. However, forest department officials are investigating whether the animal involved was leopard or stray dogs, they said.

The goats had serious injuries on the neck and abdomen. Villagers sought protection to the domestic animal from the frequent wild life attacks and adequate compensation for the loss.

Meanwhile, over 10 goats belonging to one Chinarasu were found killed by stray dogs in Velliyampalayam village on Tiruppur-Uthukuli Road in the early hours of Friday, police said.