Vangaon leopard deaths still a mystery, forensic reports awaited

Almost a month after the bodies of a leopard and its cub were found in a decomposed state in Vangaon, the cause of their death is still shrouded in mystery, thanks to delay in forensic analysis – and an apparent lack of seriousness by the authorities to solve such cases with alacrity.

What had baffled forest officials was that there were no injury marks on the bodies of the mother leopard and the month-old cub. The skin and claws were intact, suggesting that there was no foul play. Forest officials had also found the decomposed body of a dog near the spot in Bahadgaon.

"Since the bodies were decomposed and a post-mortem was not possible, we sent the samples to the forensic lab, but they say they are overburdened. We have no idea when we will get the report," said Asho Burse, range forest officer, Boisar.

Burse said they have also sent the samples of the stray dog's carcass for analysis. "The dog probably had eaten something poisonous and was later eaten by the leopards."