Dismembered leopard carcass found in Odisha's Nuapada

A leopard's death at Deogaon under the Komna range of Nuapada district has raised concerns amid the recent death of three elephants in Sambalpur. The leopard was electrocuted on November 16 at Pati Dangar near the village, when it came in contact with a wire trap set up for wild boar hunting, sources said on Tuesday.

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Reports indicate that the found carcass was severely mutilated, with the leopard's body parts missing. Residents in Deogaon, including Pustam Chinda and Hrushikesh Chinda, are alleged to have been involved in this crime.

Nuapada Forest Department's team raided the village, seizing the leopard's head, hide, and meat during the probe. It is said that those involved had previously hunted a wild boar.

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The two suspects have been apprehended and are being questioned by the Komna Forest Department in connection with the illegal hunting of the leopard. This incident highlights the ongoing challenges in combating wildlife poaching in the region.

“The leopard got electrocuted. We had laid a trap to catch wild boar. The animal came in contact with live wire on the intervening night and we saw it the next morning. We had previously killed a wild boar a few days ago,” Pustam Chinda said.