Rare Black Panther Reportedly Looking For Food Mowed Down By Speeding Train In Karnataka
In a tragic incident, a rare black panther was killed in Karnataka after it was hit by a speeding train.?The incident happened in Bada village of Karnataka's Udupi district.
Though the exact circumstances of the death are still unclear, it is believed that the black panther had strayed into the open in search of food, when it was hit by the Mangala Express on Tuesday night.
Forest officials said the animal, four or five years old, could have been walking on the track when the train was approaching, and despite it being agile it did not have the time to move away.?
"Prima facie, the death was caused by a speeding train and the panther succumbed to massive internal injuries. We conducted a post mortem and disposed of the carcass by burning it as per procedure," an official said.
Though there have been several reports of sightings of black panthers from various parts of India, the highest number of such incidents have been reported from Karnataka, especially the Kabini Wildlife Sanctuary, Kodagu district.
Last year, a black panther was spotted in Nagarhola also.
According to Deputy Conservator of Forests D Mahesh Kumar, there were about six black panthers in Karnataka forests and one in Nagarhole.
The death of the black panther is once again putting the focus back on the threat animals face due to the increase in human activity, even inside protected areas.
There is also an increase in the number of incidents where animals including leopards straying into human habitats.
A leopard that has been spotted multiple times in a week, near an apartment complex in Bengaluru was finally captured on Monday.
The leopard, which had created panic among residents since January 24 was caught by the forest department officials?
The leopard which was caught in one of the traps set by the forest department will be released in the nearby Bannerghatta National Park.?
