By IANS,
Lakhimpur Kheri (Uttar Pradesh) : In a suspected case of poaching, a young leopard’s carcass was recovered from a forest area here, officials said Monday.
The carcass of a three-year-old male leopard was recovered late Sunday evening from Bira forest range, some 200 km from Lucknow.
The exact cause of the leopard’s death is yet to be ascertained, the forest officials said but did not rule out the involvement of poachers as the feline’s body was found entangled in a metallic wire.
“The leopard’s body was found hanging from a tree and was entangled in a metallic wire,” Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) R.C. Jha told reporters here.
“We have initiated an enquiry into the case. The leopard’s body has been sent for autopsy,” he added.
Killing a leopard is a serious offence under the Indian Wildlife Act, punishable with three to seven years’ rigorous imprisonment.