Leopard dies after being caught in trap set for pigs

Periyapatna: A male leopard died on Sunday, August 9 after being caught in a trap set up by poachers to catch pigs.

The incident occurred at Muddenahalli village in the taluk.

DCF Mahesh Kumar, ACF Satish, Medical Officer Dr Mujeeb, Wildlife Conservation Officer Kritika and NTC Director Venkatanaidu visited the site.

Dr Mujeeb, who conducted the post-mortem examination, said that the male leopard was about 6 years old and died when he tried to break the cable wire with his head but it tightened onto his abdomen.

Forest personnel, led by RFO Hanumanthraju, performed the leopard’s funeral.

Last year too, a leopard had died similarly in a poachers’ trap in the Mummadi forest reserve in the taluk.

Locals have complained that poultry and meat sellers dump their waste in the jungles here, the stench from the waste makes the residents suffer and also attracts the animals causing some of them to die in road accidents.

They also allege that the Kadanchina gram panchayat’s PDO has been bribed by the poultry and meat sellers for not to act against them.

Forest department officials have registered a case and have started an investigation.