Overview

• On August 11, eight-year-old Noor ul Haq, son of a migrant Waverly estate worker, was mauled to death by what authorities initially identified as a sloth bear while returning from buying milk near Valparai waterfalls.
• His body was recovered in a nearby tea plantation and sent to Valparai Government Hospital for a post-mortem examination.
• Following the attack, local residents demanded installation of cages to capture the animal and the Forest Department later trapped a leopard in the area.
• Conflicting reports about the species responsible—sloth bear attack versus a trapped leopard—highlight verification gaps in the Forest Department’s response.
• Fatal incidents have clustered in recent months, including a June 20 leopard attack that killed a four-year-old, prompting calls for more fencing, lighting and AI-based monitoring around migrant settlements.