7-year-old female leopard dies of uterine infection at Odisha’s Sambalpur zoo

A female leopard died while undergoing treatment for a possible infection at Sambalpur Zoo on Wednesday night.

Sources reported that at about 9:13 pm yesterday, the 7-year-old leopardess named Rani died due to a possible uterine infection.

Reports also stated that earlier yesterday evening, Rani started vomiting, prompting immediate medical attention. Subsequently, she was taken to the Sambalpur zoo hospital and administered injections.

However, her health continued to deteriorate, and she began bleeding from the mouth during treatment. Despite the best efforts of zoo officials, the leopardess died in the night.

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Confirming the reports, the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Hirakud Wildlife Division said that the spread of infection could not be controlled.

“Officials found Rani vomiting at about 6 pm in the evening and rushed her to the zoo hospital. She was administered anti-inflammatory and antibiotic injections but her life could not be saved. Preliminary reports suggest a uterus infection as the cause of her death,” said the DFO.

Incidentally, in the early weeks of November, Rani had her first mating with a leopard named Raja at the zoo. Additionally, the leopard was slated to undergo a medical examination in the third week of this month to check her reproductive health, as per the DFO.

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Rani’s death comes after a leopard carcass was found near the Budhijhari protected forest area under the Singhapada section of Nayagrah district on Wednesday morning. The animal was suspected to have died after coming in contact with a live wire set up by poachers.