An adult female leopard's carcass was found inside Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) on Wednesday morning. Preliminary investigations suggest it died after being hit by a vehicle.
According to officials from SGNP, a strong stench led staffers to the carcass - close to rest house 6 - on Wednesday morning. They got in touch with their seniors, who went to the spot and quickly realised the carcass was no more than two days old.
"It was a female, around seven to eight years old, and was found in the forest area close to a rest house. While the post mortem report is awaited, initial observations by vets suggest that she was hit by a vehicle, causing injuries to her head and neck, but no other part of her body. Also, she had no microchip, which means that this cat had never been caught and released," said Vikas Gupta, chief conservator of forests and field director, SGNP. He added that the body had begun to decay and was infested with maggots.
Another official from SGNP said the area where the body was found was an isolated patch where few vehicles ventures. This suggested that the leopard may have been hit elsewhere and succumbed to its injuries while trying to return to the forest.
Wildlife enthusiasts have long been complaining about speeding vehicles of tourists, policemen and forest officials themselves inside the park.
"We have been telling the department that speeding vehicles inside SGNP and around Film City and Aarey Colony are the biggest threat to animals. The 20kmph speed limit has never been adhered to or enforced," said a naturalist who visits SGNP regularly.
According to officials from SGNP, a strong stench led staffers to the carcass - close to rest house 6 - on Wednesday morning. They got in touch with their seniors, who went to the spot and quickly realised the carcass was no more than two days old.
"It was a female, around seven to eight years old, and was found in the forest area close to a rest house. While the post mortem report is awaited, initial observations by vets suggest that she was hit by a vehicle, causing injuries to her head and neck, but no other part of her body. Also, she had no microchip, which means that this cat had never been caught and released," said Vikas Gupta, chief conservator of forests and field director, SGNP. He added that the body had begun to decay and was infested with maggots.
Another official from SGNP said the area where the body was found was an isolated patch where few vehicles ventures. This suggested that the leopard may have been hit elsewhere and succumbed to its injuries while trying to return to the forest.
Wildlife enthusiasts have long been complaining about speeding vehicles of tourists, policemen and forest officials themselves inside the park.
"We have been telling the department that speeding vehicles inside SGNP and around Film City and Aarey Colony are the biggest threat to animals. The 20kmph speed limit has never been adhered to or enforced," said a naturalist who visits SGNP regularly.
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