Kannur, May 11 -- A wild buffalo that spread fear across the residential areas of Pinarayi, Dharmadam and Kathiroor was captured by a special Forest Department team using tranquiliser darts, according to officials.

Acting on the directions of Kannur Divisional Forest Officer S Vaishakh, the team led by Kottiyoor Range Officer T Nithin Raj later shifted the animal to the Tholpetty Wildlife Sanctuary in Wayanad and released it deep inside the forest.

Forest officials had been monitoring the movement of the wild buffalo in Koothuparamba and Panunda regions for the past two days.

The animal, first spotted in Kathiroor Panunda on May 7, later moved to a private property in the Vadakkumbad Thottummal area. Since the location was around 13.5 ...