Leopard Killed By Live Wire Trap Set By Poachers In Madhya Pradesh's Sanjay Dubri Tiger Reserve

In a tragic incident, a leopard was electrocuted after coming in contact with a live-wire trap set up by poachers in a forest area of Shahdol district in Madhya Pradesh.

The full-grown leopard, believed to be around seven years old was found dead in the bushes in Kharpa beat of Beohari forest range in the inner circle of the reserve located in Sidhi district on Friday.

IANS

"The animal had died hours before the carcass was spotted on Friday morning. Death was due to electrocution. Locals may have also played a part, we are finding out the details," an official said.

On being alerted, a dog squad from Sanjay Tiger Reserve was roped in to find the clues, and the initial probe suggested that the big cat died after stepping onto the electric wire trap laid by poachers possibly for some other animals.

afp

The poachers later dumped the carcass of the leopard in the nearby bushes, Divisional Forest Officer (North) Gaurav Choudhary said.

Following an investigation, two persons have been detained in this connection with the incident.

"We have detained two persons in this connection and they are being questioned," Choudhary said.

Established in 1975, the Tiger Reserve comprises the Sanjay Dubri National Park and the Dubri Wildlife Sanctuary, both of which cover an area of more than 831 sq.km.

Two leopard electrocuted in June

In June, two leopards were electrocuted at a wildlife zone in Satna district in a span of three days.

BCCL

A total of five people were arrested in connection with the two incidents, in which Forest Officials say the leopards could have been killed for their meat.

In February three leopards were killed in Indore's Mhow in 15 days and one of the carcasses had its 18 claws, all of its whiskers and a patch of skin cut from its abdomen, missing, leading to suspicion that the big cats were killed by poachers.

Leopards are hunted for their skins, bones and other parts for use in traditional medicine in the international market.

22 leopards killed by poachers in 2021

As per available data, in Madhya Pradesh at least 22 leopards were killed by poachers in 2021.

BCCL

Madhya Pradesh is the home to the largest number of leopards and tigers in the country.

According to the ¡°Status of Leopards in India¡± 2018, there were around 3,421, leopards in Madhya Pradesh, which is almost double of the second-ranked state, Karnataka, which has 1,783

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