Shimla, Apr 3
The Himachal Pradesh State Wildlife Authority has filed a case under the Wildlife Protection Act following the confirmation that three leopards, including two cubs and a leopardess, died due to poisoning recently.
Subdivision Police Officer Naresh Sharma of Rampur informed that a case has been registered against unknown individuals under the Wildlife Protection Act after the state wildlife authority confirmed through autopsy reports that the three carcasses were poisoned, likely by pesticide consumption.
The Range Officer of the Forest Department has lodged a case at the Rampur Police Station based on the postmortem reports of the animals. The police initiated an investigation and registered a case on Tuesday against unidentified persons.
It is noteworthy that on March 8, the carcasses of three leopards were discovered in Dansa Panchayat of Rampur in Shimla district.
Also read:Recovery of leopard carcass along two cubs alarms wildlife authority
The SDPO stated that wildlife officials decided to conduct autopsies following complaints from villagers who witnessed the cubs in distress before demise. It has been confirmed that their deaths were caused by organophosphorus pesticide poisoning.
According to the complaint filed by rangers at the police station, the two cubs, aged around 8 months, and a leopardess around two and a half years old, were poisoned after consuming meat from a poisoned cow in an apple orchard in Dansa village under Rampur subdivision.
The Forest Department confirmed that no wounds were found on the bodies of the three deceased leopards. Additionally, the packet of pesticide responsible for their deaths was discovered by the Forest Department at the scene.
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