Leopard electrocuted in trap laid to poach wild boar in Odisha's Nayagarh

A leopard carcass was found near the Budhijhari protected forest area under the Singhapada section of Nayagrah district on Wednesday morning.

Though the exact reason behind the death of the leopard is not known, it is suspected that it might have died after coming in contact with an electric trap laid to poach wild boar. 

On being informed about the death of the big cat, a team, including officials from the Khandapada forest division, visited the site and conducted an investigation into the matter. Preliminary findings by the forest department suggest that the leopard might have died due to electrocution caused by a live wire set up to hunt wild boars.

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The Nayagarh forest division officer stated that samples from the leopard's body would be sent for further examination to ascertain the exact cause and nature of the death.

Meanwhile, the incident raised concerns among wildlife experts and animal conversations in the state regarding rising cases of illegal poaching inside protected forests of the state.

Incidentally, the case of this leopard’s death in Nayagarh came on the same day that Odisha Forest, Environment, and Climate Change Minister Ganesh Ram Singhkhuntia informed the state assembly that 34 leopards and three Royal Bengal Tigers had died in the state in the last five years.

Notably, of the 34 leopards, 17 were killed by poachers, three died after being electrocuted, one in train accidents, three in road accidents, and three others due to diseases informed the minister.

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As of now, 696 leopards roam in different forest areas of Odisha as per figures accounted for during the 2024 Odisha Leopard Estimation drive.