TEAM HERALD
bureau@herald-goa.com
PONDA: The leopard that was found hiding in a cave at Borim was found dead in the same cave on Tuesday.
It may be recalled that a group of boys, who were proceeding towards a hillock to play cricket on March 29, were startled to spot a leopard in a cave close to the Suryanarayan Temple at Adulshe in Tamshirem-Borim.
Concerned that the animal could pose a threat to locals in the area, the residents had initially accused the forest officials of acting in an indifferent manner in attempts to rescue the animal.
It is learnt that the leopard was taking shelter in the cave, after it had sustained serious injuries while escaping from a cable trap.
The forest officials said they found an injury cut on its right paw, as the leopard had tried to escape from a cable trap laid by the hunters. The leopard died due to excessive bleeding and infection and starvation.
Animal Rescue Squad (ARS) member Charan Dessai said he along with forest officials and ARS members has conducted a search to locate the leopard, but they could not trace the animal.
“The carcass was finally found in the same cave,” informed the forest official and added that the post-mortem will be conducted to ascertain the exact cause of death.
Charan Dessai said this is the third case of leopard found dead in Borim, as two months ago at Tishem-Borim, a leopard was found dead due to a gun shot, while earlier, a leopard died of injuries after getting being caught in a cable trap.
When contacted, Borim Sarpanch Sanjay Gavde said he was not informed about the death of the leopard and added that officials had taken the carcass to Bondla without informing him.
