Trap laid to catch wild pigs claimed life of leopard
Giridih, Jan.10 (HS): A fully grown up leopard died in Bhimtari forests in Gawan block in Jharkhand’s Giridih district on Sunday after it fell in an iron mesh trap laid by local villagers to catch wild pigs and wild boars, a traditional way to hunting by forest dwellers.
The incident occurred on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday. This morning when the forest department learnt about the leopard having got trapped, it rushed a rescue team but forest department sources claimed that delay in arranging logistics for the rescue exercise led to the death owing to untimely medical help to the leopard.
“It may have died due to pain and suffocation,” remarked a forester in Ranchi, adding that rescuers should have tranquilised it initially to capture it in a cage after taking it out from the trap.
Prawesh Agarwal, divisional forest officer of Giridih confirmed the incident stating that the feline may have fallen in the trap last night during its search for water. “Actual reason for the death will be known after its autopsy,” he said.
The particular forest in Giridih is said to be a congenial corridor for leopards and other wild animals connecting Parasnath forests.
The area range officer Anil Kumar said that they swung into action soon after getting the information early morning for the rescue work. “The plan was to set it free after rescue but it unfortunately died before that,” he said.
As per the recent report on leopard population titled Status of Leopards in India 2018, published by Union government in December 2020, Jharkhand currently has 46 leopards, a rise by about 50% since 2014.
