The carcass of an adult leopard was found under mysterious circumstances in a cashew forest near Mindol village under Athamallik forest division of Angul district on Sunday. It is suspected that the leopard died after getting trapped in a noose laid by some poachers.
However, the forest department officials are yet to ascertain the exact reason behind the leopard’s death. Locals spotted the carcass of the leopard when they had gone to the forest over to graze cows and goats. The carcass has been completely decomposed and the leopard is suspected to have died almost a week ago.
The cow grazers later informed the matter to the forest department officials.
Worth mentioning, the carcass of another leopard was earlier recovered from Phuljhari forest under Kishorenagar block on November 6, 2022. Similarly, another leopard was found dead in a paddy field near Batrakhol forest under Handpa forest range on December 18, 2021.
The rise in poaching in Angul district has become a matter of serious concern, but the forest department is still in deep slumber, local residents alleged.