Niali: After the forest department and special team from Similipal National Park failed to catch the 'mysterious' animal that has been killing sheep since the last many days, villagers today claimed they have caught the animal.
The villagers of Dihasithala have caught a jackal like canine and claimed that four other such animals escaped.
"The one we caught is a baby animal while the bigger ones escaped," said a villager.
Later, they informed the forest department officials and handed over the animal to them. “We received a call from local Sarpanch that the villagers captured an animal suspected to be the sheep killer. We immediately rushed to the spot and took it to our custody. It is under stress now and needs instant relief. A team from Nandankanan has arrived in Niali to take the animal to the zoo shortly,” Phulnakhara ranger Himansu Mohanty told OTV.
The species can only be ascertained after zoo experts examined the creature, he added. The photographs of the animal have also been sent to other wild life experts, he pointed out.