Chandrapur: Mob chases leopard,stones cub to death

“The woman,Radha Govardhan,45,raised an alarm after spotting the leopard family. The mother leopard attacked her,leading to commotion in the ward. As people rushed to her help,the leopard family took refuge in a thicket. After they came out,people started chasing them with sticks and stones in their hands. One of the cubs got separated and was then targeted brutally by the people,leading to its death on the spot,” Conservator of Forest GRK Rao told The Indian Express. Sources said the people were saying they would also kill the other two cats.

“The forest has good wildlife. Since some of these areas are on its edge,a conflict situation arises often,” Rao said,adding,“We will take action against those involved in the killing under Wildlife Protection Act.”

Last month,a young tigress had to be tranquilised after it killed two and injured two others in Brahmapuri tahsil of the district. The tigress had a deep gash above her eye,probably caused by a sharp weapon,leading to suspicion that it was attacked by angry locals. The tigress is being treated at Moharli in Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve. “We are planning to release it into the wild after it recovers,” Rao said.

The series of leopard deaths started on April 1 with a leopard being found dead near the Chandrapur Super Thermal Power Station. The death is supposed to have been caused by a speeding vehicle.

Three days later,a leopard was found dead in the forest near Sawli. While it is suspected to be a case of poisoning,Rao said,“We have sent the viscera for forensic test.”

A leopard was found choked to death in a pipe of Gosikhurd irrigation project in Brahmapuri on April 9. Another leopard death reportedly caused by hunger and thirst was reported from Pusad tahsil of Yavatmal district on April 2. Over 70 people have been killed and equal number injured in tiger attacks in the district since 2006,making it one of the biggest man-animal conflict areas in the world.