A tragic incident unfolded in Kollengode, Palakkad, on Wednesday as a four-year-old female leopard succumbed to injuries after being ensnared in a barbed wire fence.
The leopard, trapped in the fence at a private property owned by Unnikrishnan Vazhappuzha in Vazhappuzha, was discovered by local residents who promptly alerted the forest authorities. Upon receiving the distress call, a team of forest officials, including veterinarians, swiftly arrived at the scene. The team initially attempted to rescue the agitated animal without the use of tranquilisers. However, as the leopard’s frantic efforts to free itself from the metal fence escalated, the officials had no alternative but to administer a mild anaesthetic dart to safely extricate the animal.
Despite the prompt actions of the forest officials, the leopard unfortunately died shortly after being tranquilised and moved to a cage. The incident has raised concerns regarding wildlife safety measures and human-animal conflict in the region.
In accordance with the National Tiger Conservation Authority’s (NTCA) standard operating procedures (SOP), the Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) constituted a five-member committee to oversee the disposal of the leopard’s carcass. The committee aims to ensure that all protocols are meticulously followed to address the incident appropriately.
A team of independent veterinarians from the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences in Mannuthy is scheduled to conduct a post-mortem examination of the leopard on Thursday morning. The findings from the post-mortem will be crucial in understanding the exact cause of death and any underlying health issues that may have contributed to the leopard’s demise.
In response to the incident, the Wildlife Protection and Conservation Society (WPCS) has urged the Forest Department to initiate legal actions to prevent such occurrences in the future. They emphasised the need for stringent measures to mitigate the risks posed to wildlife by human activities, particularly the use of barbed wire fences in areas frequented by wild animals.
The death of the leopard highlights the ongoing challenges of wildlife conservation in regions where human settlements and natural habitats intersect. There is an urgent need for comprehensive strategies to safeguard wildlife while addressing the concerns of local communities. The incident serves as a grim reminder of the delicate balance that must be maintained to coexist harmoniously with nature.
“Our team carefully sedated the leopard, disentangled it, and caged it before administering some antibiotics. Although there were no apparent external injuries, it must have suffered some serious internal injuries. The animal died about an hour after we rescued it,” said K. Vijayananthan, Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF), Eastern Circle. The leopard appeared skinny and weak. “That must have been the reason for it to stray out of the forest,” said Mr. Vijayananthan. The incident took place about one kilometre from the forest border.
WPCS wildlife officer S. Guruvayurappan said that the leopard had played crucial role in maintaining the ecology in the forest fringes by frequently devouring wild boars and stray dogs. “In the absence of the leopard, the presence of wild boars and stray dogs is likely to increase. And it can be a bigger nuisance for the farmers,” he said.
