Forest officials deny killing of leopards

Punjab Forest Department officials on Sunday ruled out poaching attempts, days after two leopards were found dead in separate incidents in Hoshiarpur.

The death of the two leopards within a span of almost three weeks has set the alarm bells ringing.

A leopard, trapped in a barbed wire, was found dead in the Birampur forest area on January 14.

The Hoshiarpur police registered a case for the violation of the Wildlife Protection Act, 2022.

Another leopard was found dead at Koi village in the district on December 28.

About a fortnight before the Koi village incident, a leopard had also strayed into Hoshiarpur’s Mehngarwal village.

In 2018, a leopard was also shot at in the district.

Dr Amandeep Singh, former Honorary Wildlife Warden, Hoshiarpur, said, “Frequent deaths and straying of leopards into human habitats is not a coincidence. Just a sighting leads to villagers dialling for a rescue operation. The venue turns into a ‘mela’ and the animal usually ends up getting brutally tortured.”

Nalin Yadav, District Forest Officer, said in the Koi village incident, the leopard died because it ate a porcupine, which led to internal bleeding. Porcupines are large rodents with coats of sharp spines or quills.

“The Birampur leopard was caught in a wire but the official cause of death is yet to be confirmed as post-mortem reports are awaited. The Mehngarwal leopard is at the Chhat Bir Zoo, under review by doctors. None of these incidents involved poachers. We keep a check on poaching activities.”

Punjab’s Chief Wildlife Warden Dharmendra Sharma too said that the two leopards died “due to natural or accidental causes”.

“Leopards are increasing in Punjab. A leopard shooting case was reported in 2023 (from Nangal). No such case has been reported from the state now. As far as complaints by villagers are concerned, they are addressed promptly. As per policy, unless an animal poses danger to human life, there is no need for rescue.”