A tragic incident unfolded in the Paoni buffer range of Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra, as a one-year-old male leopard was found dead in an open well near Dahoda-Bhattitola village on January 25. The well, located on the farmland of Purushottam Vasnik near Compartment No. 246 in the Tuyapar Beat, became a death trap for the young feline.
The Rapid Response Team (RRT) retrieved the leopard’s carcass under the supervision of forest officials and local NGO representatives. A thorough search of the surrounding area, assisted by a sniffer dog, found no signs of foul play.
On January 26, a detailed post-mortem was conducted under the guidance of Divisional Forest Officer (Vigilance), Nagpur, P.G. Kodape. Veterinary experts, including Dr. Sujit Kolangat (WRTC Gorewada), Dr. S.S. Meshram (Veterinary Medical Officer, Devlapar), and Dr. Mayank Barde (Veterinary Medical Officer, Pench Tiger Project), carried out the examination. Representatives from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) were also present during the procedure.
The post-mortem report confirmed that the leopard’s body was intact, with no external injuries. Biological samples were collected for forensic analysis, and preliminary findings indicated drowning as the cause of death.
Following the examination, the leopard’s remains were cremated in adherence to the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) of the NTCA to ensure proper disposal.
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