Sundargarh: A male leopard was found dead in the Kusumadihi Reserve Forest under the Tamra Range of Bonai Forest Division in Sundargarh district.
The forest department suspects that the leopard was poisoned, which led to its death.
According to reports, the leopard had been creating terror in the area. The leopard had reportedly killed a bullock yesterday. Locals are believed to have poisoned the bull’s carcass, which the leopard consumed. The leopard reportedly died after consuming poison-laced meat.
Despite repeated complaints from locals about the leopard’s presence, the forest department had only installed trap cameras but did not take action to shoo the leopard away from the locality.
A team of investigators, including Rourkela RCCF, has reached the scene to conduct a probe.
Meanwhile, Bonai DFO Lalit Patra stated that the investigation will reveal the exact circumstances surrounding the leopard’s death.
