Anantapur: Two leopards, a female adult and its cub, were found dead allegedly after consuming poisoned flesh of a dead dog near Rathibavi Vanka, about 5 km from the Rayadurgam municipality on Monday. Authorities suspect the poison trap was the handiwork of sheep rearers. Anantapur DFO K. Raghavaiah said the female leopard was about five years old and the cub, about four months.
The two consumed the flesh from the dog and were found dead only a few metres away, near Rathibavi Vanka. Forest teams rushed to the spot and after a short probe, determined the death was the result of deliberate poisoning. “We have collected samples of the two cats and also of the dog. The samples will be sent to the Forensic Science Lab,” DFO Raghavaiah, said. A case has been registered. The samples will also reveal if the dog had consumed poison by accident or if the animal was used by culprits who had deliberately hatched a plan to use it to trap leopards in the area.
After the post mortem, both cats were buried near Rathibavi Vanka. Over seven leopards have been killed during the past two years across various parts of the district. Two leopards died recently after they were hit by vehicles along the main road in the Kalyanadur area. The wild cats are increasingly being spotted near residential zones. Four leopards, including two cubs, were spotted two weeks ago at Chinna Gutta, of Madakasira municipality in the district.
