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.

After nearly two hours of protest, the villagers allowed the body to be taken for post-mortem examination.

A senior Forest Department official said the Department could confirm whether the animal was a leopard or another carnivore only after the post-mortem examination and further investigation. Requests for additional personnel and enhanced protection measures had already been submitted to the government, the official said.

A grievance meeting with the villagers would also be arranged, the official added.