Animal dies as 50-year-old, villagers fight in self-defence
TEAM HERALD
CANACONA: A 50-year-old man was wounded after he was mauled by a female leopard at Gaondongrim late Thursday night and the animal later died of injuries after it was reportedly battered by locals.
An autopsy has reportedly stated that the panther had been found pregnant with two cubs, which were already dead in the womb, while a rusted bullet was recovered from the leopard’s battered head, sources close to forest officials told Herald.
According to reports, the leopard attacked Vithoba Gaonkar when he tried to enter his firewood storage hut near his house in the thickly populated area of Gaondongrim.
“On hearing some noise, I entered the hut at about 11 pm but the leopard suddenly pounced on me. The leopard bit my leg, but I managed to break free by striking the animal with whatever I could grab in my hands,” recalled Gaonkar, while speaking to Herald.
Gaonkar, who sustained some bite wounds on his leg and hands, managed run out of the hut and shut the door, trapping the animal inside. He then raised an alarm and locals then alerted forest officials of the incident.
Gaonkar was shifted to Community Health Centre Chaudi at about 2 am, from where he was shifted to Hospicio in Margao.
Except for injuries on his leg and hands, Gaonkar was reported out of danger and was shifted back to CHC Canacona on Friday evening, where he was kept under observation as he is recuperating from the shock.
Forest officials from Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary went to the site and took the injured leopard in their possession, but the animal died at about 3 am.
Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) D N F Carvalho and Deputy Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Ramesh Gauns Dessai also went to Canacona to take stock of the situation.
“The leopard was, perhaps, not in very good health and had strayed inside a residential area and took refuge in Gaonkar’s hut. The trapped leopard had attacked Gaonkar, while he had also retaliated and struck the animal in self defence. He may have been joined by neighbours to ensure his safety,” Gauns Dessai said
Gauns who along with Carvalho visited Gaonkar at Hospicio Hospital to inquire about his condition, said that Gaonkar would be eligible for compensation up to a maximum of Rs 50,000 as per the Forest Act and he will be duly compensated after following proper procedures.
Sources close to forest officials who conducted the post-mortem said the post-mortem had revealed that the leopard was found pregnant with two cubs, which were already dead, while a rusted bullet was recovered from the panther’s battered head.
Sources further informed that repeated battering was evident on the leopard’s head, which reportedly contributed to its death. The leopard was also found with an old wound to its neck. However, there was no official corroboration to confirm the findings.
