Tirupati: An adult male leopard died after getting trapped in a snare laid to hunt wild boars near Madamaneru village in Thavanampalli mandal of Chittoor district. Carcass of the animal was discovered on Monday morning.
Forest officials said the animal was found by locals 4–5 km away from the reserve forest area. A preliminary investigation revealed that the leopard, about five years old, got entangled in a snare wire set up by poachers on a barren land close to the village. As the leopard tried to escape from the snare, it inflicted injuries on itself and died.
On receiving information, forest officials, including Chittoor West divisional forest officer (DFO) S. Ravi Shankar arrived at the spot. It is suspected that the leopard might have got ensnared around Sunday night.
“As per our preliminary investigation, poachers had set up the iron snare to trap wild boars. After getting trapped, the animal managed to escape from the snare but with grievous injuries. It later died due to injuries inflicted by the snare wire”, DFO Ravi Shankar told Deccan Chronicle.
Forest officials, with help of veterinarians conducted an autopsy on the carcass, followed by a panchnama. The carcass was subsequently cremated in the reserve forest. A case has been registered and investigation is on.
