FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2024
Team Herald
PONDA: A partly decomposed carcass of a leopard was found by the roadside at Paalwada, Usgao with its paws missing, suspected to be an attempt by unidentified poachers to hunt the wild cat for its skin and claws.
It is also suspected that the leopard may have been hit by a vehicle traversing through the main road.
Ponda RFO Deepak Tandel is further investigating the matter.
As per the reports, the carcass was spotted on the roadside on Friday morning by some locals, but none of them informed the Forest Department. Later, a local informed the department, which sent the body to Bondla for autopsy after conducting the panchanama.
The big cat is assumed to have died around four days ago given that the carcass was found in a partly decomposed state with its paws missing.
Leopards have made domesticated dogs their prey in Usgao area for the past several months and the one found on Friday is suspected to have ventured into the village for the same.
