Activists say the decomposed bodies of leopard and sambhar prove poaching is alive within Mumbai’s forests
A 20-day decomarcass of a leopard was found close to a set inside Film City near Goregaon on Monday night. The incident is expected to be a glaring case of poaching since 11 nails of the leopard were found missing, while the remains of a sambhar deer whose head and flesh were also missing were also found about 50 metres away from the leopard.
Wildlife activists say the leopard must have struggled for at least four to five days with its abdomen portion stuck in the wire snare before dying. The activists have said this proves poaching continues unabated in the forests of Mumbai.
The Thane forest department was informed by the security staff of Maharashtra Security Force (MSF) and the Aarey police about the carcass.
Dr Shailesh Pethe, veterinary officer at Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) said the carcass was of a female leopard whose age is estimated to be about three to four years. "The carcass seems to be 20 days old and the post-mortem findings revealed the skeleton was intact. But 11 nails are missing. A metallic wire loop was seen encircled on the lower abdomen. All internal organ systems were decomposed, so probable cause of death cannot be concluded," he said.
Pethe added that the carcass of the sambar too was around 20 days old. "A metallic wire was found encircling the front left leg of the carcass," he said.
Forest officials suspect that the wire snare could have been set up for deers and wild boars that are hunted for meat and there are chances that both the sambar and leopard got stuck and the accused got away with the flesh and head of the sambhar along with the nails of the leopard. "However, what seems strange is despite the road being a busy one, nobody heard the cries of the leopard and the sambhar," said a member of the forest staff.
Dr Jitendra Ramgaonkar, deputy conservator of forests (DCF), Thane territorial, said this was a serious case and investigations has begun into it, and appropriate action would be taken.
POACHING IS ALIVE
- Activists say the wire may have been set up for deers or boars in the area
- The poachers may have got away with the head of the sambhar and the nails of the leopard.
- Officials said it was being treated as a serious case and investigations have begun
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