Instead of leopards, three stray dogs got trapped in one of the cages placed on the village outskirts. (Special Arrangement)A leopard threat saw a twist in the tale when three stray dogs, lured by the bait, got trapped in a cage set up for the big cats in a village of Valsad district on Thursday. Residents of Ghadoi village in Valsad taluka reported sighting three leopards earlier the week around their village, to the forest department.As is the practice, the forest department set up as many cages in different locations with live chickens in them to lure the leopards.Cameras were installed around the cage area to track the movements of the big cat.On Tuesday, a leopard got trapped in one of the cages. The forest officials took the cage and freed the big cat in deep forest areas, leaving the remaining two cages.On Thursday evening, instead of leopards, three stray dogs got trapped in one of the cages placed on the village outskirts. That some animal had been caught drew local villagers and others to the scene. Some onlookers filmed the stray dogs in the cage and uploaded the videos to social media platforms. The residents reported the capture to the forest department, which released the dogs.Valsad Range Forest Officer R C Gavit said, “We installed three cages in the village based on pug marks of three leopards. The dogs entered the cages to eat chicken and were trapped. We have rescued one of the leopards, and two cages have been placed to trap the other two leopards. The dogs were released in the village by our teams.”Kamal Saiyed is a senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, providing extensive, on-the-ground coverage from Surat and the broader South Gujarat region and the Union territories of Daman, Diu & Dadra Nagar Haveli. With a reporting career at the publication spanning back to 2007, he has established himself as a high-authority voice on the industrial, social, and political pulse of one of India’s fastest-growing urban hubs. Expertise Industrial & Economic Beat: Based in the "Diamond City," Saiyed offers expert reporting on the diamond and textile industries. His work tracks global market shifts (such as De Beers production changes), local trade policies, and the socio-economic challenges facing the millions of workers in Surat’s manufacturing hubs. Civic & Infrastructure Coverage: He consistently reports on urban development and public safety in Surat, including: Traffic & Urban Planning: Monitoring the city's 13-fold increase in traffic violations and the implementation of new municipal drives. Public Safety: Investigative reporting on infrastructure failures, fire safety NOC compliance in schools and commercial buildings, and Metro rail progress. Political Reporting: Tracking the shifting dynamics between the BJP, Congress, and AAP in South Gujarat and the neighboring Union Territories (Daman, Diu, and Dadra & Nagar Haveli). Crime beat: Armed with a good source network Saiyed has been able to bring out the human side of crime stories in his region ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram