Bhubaneswar: The Forest Department officials in Keonjhar have discovered the decomposed carcass of a female leopard in the Kalapat Reserve Forest during an elephant monitoring operation. The leopard, estimated to be 1.5 years old, is believed to have died approximately 20 days ago.
The discovery was made by an elephant monitoring squad on Friday had ventured into the forest to observe the movements of a herd of 22 elephants. While tracking the herd, the team stumbled upon the remains of the leopard.
The Forest Department confirmed that the leopard’s skin and claws were intact, ruling out the possibility of poaching. However, the exact cause of death remains unknown and will be determined after a detailed post-mortem examination.
The Kalapat Reserve Forest, home to six leopards as per the latest census, faces increasing challenges from human encroachment and changing climatic conditions. These factors have made wildlife conservation an uphill battle in the area.
