A leopard aged around 4 years was run over by an unknown vehicle on National Highway-44 at Roopla Nayak tanda [tribal hamlet] in Indalwai mandal resulting in the death of the big cat on the spot early this morning.
Forest officials, who rushed to the spot, suspected that the leopard might have been hit when it was crossing the road from one side of forest to another between 5.30 a.m. and 6 a.m. The mutilated body of the wild animal was brought to the veterinary hospital at Indalwai for post-mortem examination (PME), according to VSNV Prasad, District Forest Officer.
After the PME, the animal body would be burnt instead of burying it to prevent poachers from skinning it or removing its nails or other parts, said the DFO.
This is the second incident of leopard death after being hit by a vehicle in the same mandal in the last four months. In January, a leopard lost its legs when a train hit it in the Sirnapally forest area. The seriously injured animal died, after being shifted to Nehru Zoological Park for treatment.
