Leopard dies in trap near Madanapalle
Villagers noted that the animal appeared visibly distressed and dehydrated, possibly exacerbated by summer temperatures.
TIRUPATI: A two-year-old pregnant leopard died on Wednesday after it was caught in a trap, reportedly set up to protect crops from wild animals, near the fringes of Ponnutipalem village in Madanapalle mandal of Annamayya district.
According to locals, the animal was found trapped in the early hours and remained alive until around 12.30 pm. Forest department officials, who were alerted at 8.45 am, rushed to the spot and initiated a rescue operation with the assistance of a trained team. Despite efforts, the leopard succumbed to injuries and stress while the rescue was still underway.
“As soon as our forest range officer received the information, a trained team was deployed to rescue the animal. The leopard had suffered severe injuries due to the snare and appeared dehydrated due to intense heat. Our team did their best to provide water and release it safely, but unfortunately, it died during the operation”, Annamayya District Forest Officer (DFO) Jagannath Singh told Deccan Chronicle.
Villagers noted that the animal appeared visibly distressed and dehydrated, possibly exacerbated by summer temperatures. While some locals attempted to offer water using a pipe, they claimed they were advised not to approach the animal, due to safety protocols in handling wild cats.
Concerns were also raised about the time taken for a designated shooter to arrive, which villagers allege caused delays in administering a tranquilliser and hampered the rescue efforts. Forest officials, however, maintained that all standard procedures were followed during the operation.
