Leopard was hit with a blunt object: Post mortem

The post mortem of a young leopard found dead near a village in Amreli district on Tuesday has revealed that the animal was most likely hit with a blunt object on the head,which might have led to its death. The intestines of the 10-month-old female predator were “almost totally empty”,indicating it must have died hungry.

The leopard had apparently attacked three men who were out answering nature’s call in gauchar land on the outskirts of Daldi village in Khambha taluka on Tuesday morning.

Forest officials suspect a mob of villagers may have come upon hearing cries for help and killed the leopard. The villagers were reportedly unwilling to divulge more information.

Being a Schedule I animal under the Wildlife Protection Act,harming a leopard carries a jail term as punishment.