Niali, July 1: Local people have killed two of the carnivorous animals that have been killing their sheep and causing panic in the area over the past several days.

However, the villagers have not reported this to the authorities in fear of cases being lodged against them.

Confusion still exists on the identity of the predators. While some local people believe it is a cross between wolf and hyena, forest minister Bijayshree Routray said: "It's like a wolf."

However, from the picture of an animal killed by the people, The Telegraph accessed, it looks like a hyena.

A villager said they were prepared when the predators came. "It was around 3am when the animals attacked our sheep. We were prepared and we killed them right then," he said.

"We had thought of sharing the information with the press. But, our elders had advised against it because the information might reach the police and forest officials and instead of appreciating our effort, they may take legal action against us. This is why we did not reveal this to either the press or the authorities so far," he said.

The villagers, whose animals have been killed, expect compensation from the government. Niali villager Srikant Dash said: "There are many reasons why these animals are hunting at our villages. Trees in the nearby forests have been cut, and the animals have no place to live and are also finding it hard to find food. This is why they have started entering our villages. It is a case of conflict between animal and human beings for survival."

In the recent past, the predators have killed more than 200 sheep and fear is tangible in the area, especially in the evenings. People shut their doors at dusk and many hang lanterns at the door to keep the animals at bay.

Some local people have formed teams to guard their villages as well. Armed with the sticks, shovels and other weapons, the local youths continue to search bushes in and around the villages in the hope of finding the animals and driving them away, or, possibly killing them.

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik has urged the people not to panic.

Though the forest officials have intensified their search, they are yet to catch the predators, which killed two more sheep last night at Pokharigaon. The local people staged a roadblock in the area following the latest killings.

Minister Routray said: "We have already identified the animal. It's like a wolf. Traps have already been set to catch it."