Leopardess found dead with bullet injury

Tribune News Service

Solan,September 13

A leopardess was found dead on the Gamberpul-Byunkhari road with a bullet injury on the left side of her neck in the Ramshehar area of Nalagarh yesterday.

Forest guard was informed about the incident by a passerby, who had noticed the carcass of the animal on the road this morning.

DFO Yashodeep said the post-mortem report revealed that an old gun powder-based weapon was used to kill the animal and since the body was not taken away, it appeared to be an accidental killing where the poacher could have targeted other animal. The leopardess had walked some distance after being shot as blood marks were visible near the spot.

Villagers, however, claimed that they had neither spotted any leopard in the area in two years, nor heard any gunshot though the body was found lying in the vicinity of a village, added the DFO. A case under Section 51 of the Wildlife Protection Act has been registered by the Ramshehar police and further probe is underway.