Leopard found dead in dumping yard in Nalgonda

Forest officials suspect that the leopard might have died after eating a pig that was poisoned by farmers for protection of their agricultural fields

Nalgonda: A leopard was found dead in the dumping yard of Nalgonda municipality (Resource Park) near Chandanapally on Wednesday.

Forest officials suspect that the leopard might have died after eating a pig that was poisoned by farmers for protection of their agricultural fields. A pig rearer found the carcass of the leopard in the bushes in a corner of the dumping yard and informed the Forest officials, following which a team led by District Forest Officer Ram Babu rushed to the spot and examined the surrounding areas.

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Three pigs were also found dead near the place where the carcass of the leopard was found.

Speaking to the media, veterinary doctor K Sandeep Reddy said the leopard was a male and could have been aged about five to six years. It is suspected to have died eight to 10 days ago. There were no injuries on its body. Samples collected from the intestinal and abdominal parts of the leopard would be sent to a forensic lab and the Veterinary Biological Research Lab at Hyderabad, he said.

People from Kesharajupally, Seshammagudem, ST colony and Chandanapally had informed officials a few days ago that a leopard was moving in their area. Forest Range Officer M Butchi Reddy said the pug marks of a leopard were seen at Kesharajupally about 15 days ago. However, no movement of the leopard was seen in the area after the incident.

“We thought the leopard must have returned to the forest,” he said, adding that the forensic reports would be available in five days, based on which the department would decide on the action to be taken.

Pig-rearer Kammai Nagaraju, who first found the leopard carcass, said 25 of his pigs had died in the last one week after eating poison-laced food placed by farmers on the pretext of protecting their crops from the pigs.