Mahabubnagar: A leopard with injuries in the rear legs and back that was found lying in a farmer’s field in Burugupalli village, Koilkonda mandal on Thursday was shifted to Nehru Zoological Park in Hyderabad for treatment.
The villagers found the injured leopard lying motionless, and offered it some water in a plastic saucer. They also informed the forest officials who rushed to the the spot and immediately cordoned off the area.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the leopard may have tried to attack some buffaloes and in the process, got injured when the buffaloes too launched a counter attack. A couple of buffaloes too suffered injuries on their faces, FDO C Ganga Reddy said. “But this is just preliminary investigation based on locals version and we are investigating thoroughly from all angles including possible attack by humans,” he said.
The forest officials sought help from Nehru Zoological Park and a six-member rescue team rushed to the spot. The leopard was active and the injuries do not seem to be life threatening, he informed.
Post treatment, the officials will decide as per the veterinarian’s and Chief Wildlife Wardens advice, Ganga Reddy said, adding that usually, wild animals are released back in the jungle.
But many things will have to be taken into consideration since there have been some instances in Koilkonda, Hanwada, Nawampet and other mandals in the recent past, when leopards and hyenas attacked cattle in the villages.
Forests in Mahabubnagar limits, are mostly degraded and local villagers may oppose releasing the leopard back in the same jungle. In that case, it may have to be released in Amrabad Tiger Reserve. All these aspects will be decided by the forest department officials, he said.
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