Leopard dies after getting trapped in snare in Odisha's Ganjam

Berhampur (Odisha), Jul 7 (PTI) An adult male leopard was found dead after allegedly getting trapped in a snare in Odisha's Ganjam district, forest officials said on Tuesday. Villagers spotted the carcass hanging from a tree near Jarada village in Kabisurya Nagar block and informed the authorities. Senior officials, including Berhampur Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Sunny Khokkar and Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF), Khallikote, Diby Shankar Behera, reached the spot and recovered the animal's carcass from the tree. Although the exact cause of death will only be known after autopsy, circumstantial evidence suggests the leopard died after being trapped in a snare laid by miscreants, a forest officer said. "The leopard might have climbed the tree after getting trapped and later succumbed. The snare entangled around the animal was found with the carcass," the official said. Khokkar said the snare may have been laid to hunt wild boars or other animals, but the leopard got trapped in it. "The post-mortem examination of the carcass was conducted by a veterinary team as per the standard operating procedure," he said. A case has been registered at Khallikote forest range, and an inquiry has been initiated to identify and apprehend those responsible, the DFO said. "Strict action will be taken against wildlife offenders involved in illegal hunting activities," Khokkar said, advising people against laying illegal snares. This is the second leopard death in Odisha in the last two months due to snaring. In May, an adult leopard was killed after being trapped in a snare in a reserve forest under Nilgiri forest range of Balasore wildlife division. PTI COR BBM BBM MNB