Carcass of leopardess found in Chanda forest
CHANDRAPUR: The recovery of mutilated carcass of a sub-adult leopardess at Karwa jungle in Ballarpur forest
range has baffled forest department officials. The lower jaw along with
upper canine teeth and few nails were missing from the carcass when
forest staffer discovered the body in a nullah on Tuesday morning.
Even as missing body parts points towards poaching, the veterinary doctor in his primary finding has held that the beast had died of some abdominal infection and some miscreants later removed the jaw for the canines' and four nails, one each from four legs, from the carcass.
Forest guard of Karwa beat, DT Majgawli, during his routine patrol, saw a carcass near a nullah early in the morning. The carcass was fresh with blood oozing from the lower jaw.
"It turned out to be a young leopardess. The jaw wound was fresh with blood oozing. The accused were apparently busy chopping nails and jaw, when they heard sound of my vehicle and fled," said Majgawli.
He immediately informed his higher officers, who rushed to the spot. DCF, Central Chanda forest division, Madan Kulkarni, ACF Pradeep Kottewar, ACF UT Bisen, RFO, Ballarpur range, MM Morey along with staffers reached the spot. A sniffer dog was also taken to the spot, but it failed to track the trail of the poachers.
Forest officers said the age of the leopardess could be around one-and-half years. There is presence of a leopardess with two cubs in the same area and possibility of the deceased beast being one of two cubs could not be ruled out.
The carcass was later moved to Karwa forest nursery for post mortem after inquest formalities on the spot. Veterinary doctor VS Lekham from Ballarpur carried out the post mortem. Wildlife warden Bandu Dhotre claimed that there were no injury marks on the carcass suggesting conflict or poaching with snare or trap.
"The beast had severe abdominal infection due to consumption of some spoiled food. Large quantity of maggots and worms were recovered from her intestine. The possibility of death is due to this abdominal infection, but exact reason could be learnt only after receipt of viscera report from the lab," said Dr Lekhami.
DCF Kulkarni claimed that local staffers have been ordered to look out for the leopardess and its cubs to confirm the identity of the dead beast. They have also been directed to look out for the kill, consumption of which had led to abdominal infection that caused its death. He also claimed that informers have been alerted and forest staffers are looking out for the miscreants who removed the tooth and nails from the carcass.
Forest staffers cremated the carcass in the same forest nursery after post mortem, in the afternoon.
A total of 10 tigers and five leopards have died in Chandrapur district this year. More than half a dozen leopards have also been captured and relocated from the man-animal conflict zone this year in Chandrapur.
Even as missing body parts points towards poaching, the veterinary doctor in his primary finding has held that the beast had died of some abdominal infection and some miscreants later removed the jaw for the canines' and four nails, one each from four legs, from the carcass.
Forest guard of Karwa beat, DT Majgawli, during his routine patrol, saw a carcass near a nullah early in the morning. The carcass was fresh with blood oozing from the lower jaw.
"It turned out to be a young leopardess. The jaw wound was fresh with blood oozing. The accused were apparently busy chopping nails and jaw, when they heard sound of my vehicle and fled," said Majgawli.
He immediately informed his higher officers, who rushed to the spot. DCF, Central Chanda forest division, Madan Kulkarni, ACF Pradeep Kottewar, ACF UT Bisen, RFO, Ballarpur range, MM Morey along with staffers reached the spot. A sniffer dog was also taken to the spot, but it failed to track the trail of the poachers.
Forest officers said the age of the leopardess could be around one-and-half years. There is presence of a leopardess with two cubs in the same area and possibility of the deceased beast being one of two cubs could not be ruled out.
The carcass was later moved to Karwa forest nursery for post mortem after inquest formalities on the spot. Veterinary doctor VS Lekham from Ballarpur carried out the post mortem. Wildlife warden Bandu Dhotre claimed that there were no injury marks on the carcass suggesting conflict or poaching with snare or trap.
"The beast had severe abdominal infection due to consumption of some spoiled food. Large quantity of maggots and worms were recovered from her intestine. The possibility of death is due to this abdominal infection, but exact reason could be learnt only after receipt of viscera report from the lab," said Dr Lekhami.
DCF Kulkarni claimed that local staffers have been ordered to look out for the leopardess and its cubs to confirm the identity of the dead beast. They have also been directed to look out for the kill, consumption of which had led to abdominal infection that caused its death. He also claimed that informers have been alerted and forest staffers are looking out for the miscreants who removed the tooth and nails from the carcass.
Forest staffers cremated the carcass in the same forest nursery after post mortem, in the afternoon.
A total of 10 tigers and five leopards have died in Chandrapur district this year. More than half a dozen leopards have also been captured and relocated from the man-animal conflict zone this year in Chandrapur.
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