6-month-old leopard killed near Tadoba
A six-month-old leopard was killed by an angry mob after it and two other leopards attacked three women at Chandrapur, close to the Tadoba tiger reserve, on Wednesday.
Radhabai Goverdhan, 45, and two other women of Ashtabhuja ward of Chandrapur went to answer nature’s call in the Junona forest area.
A leopard and her two cubs were passing through the area in search of a prey and water.
Seeing the leopard, Radhabai panicked and raised an alarm, prompting the leopard to attack her. When other women too started shouting, locals gathered and attacked the leopard and its cubs. The mother leopard successfully fled with one of her cub, but another was trapped by the mob.
People threw stones at the cub and with iron rods and bamboo sticks bludgeoned the sixmonth-old male cub. The cub died on the spot. It is alleged that the locals put the cub’s carcass on display and also posed for photographs.
When the forest officials reached the spot, some locals demanded compensation to the injured Radhabai, who was admitted to the government civil hospital. The carcass was recovered following intervention of senior forest officials and sent for post-mortem. Abhay Wadkelwar, the range forest officer of the area, said they have registered offences against unidentified persons for killing the big cat. “We are investigating the matter and necessary action would be taken.“
The conservator of forests (CF), Chandrapur, GRK Rao expressed shock over the brutal murder of the animal. He has ordered an investigation into the incident.
Initial investigation reveal that the mob pelted stones while the leopards tried to escape from the spot. “The cub could have been saved had the locals waited for another half an hour,“ a forest officer said.
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Thanks & Rgds
Ajay Marathe
Vashi, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra
Hiranmay Karlekar