Angul: A male leopard died after being caught in a snare trap laid by poachers inside a reserve forest area in Angul district of Odisha.
As per information, villagers spotted the trapped leopard, aged around six years, and informed the forest department officials. The animal later succumbed to injuries during treatment at Kulasingha nursery near Kusumchankragarh reserve forest under Sadar range of Angul division on Tuesday.
Sources said the leopard accidentally fell into the snare at Karatpeta forest section near Dimirpal village on Monday night. Villagers heard the growl of the trapped animal on Tuesday and informed the local forest officials.
Forest officials including RCCF, Angul circle Sanjay Kumar Swain and divisional forest officer (DFO) Nitish Kumar rushed to the spot. Veterinary doctors and rapid response teams from Angul and Dhenkanal were also roped in.
Officials said the leopard was found in a semi-conscious state. It was rescued and shifted to nearby Kulasingha nursery. It was provided necessary treatment by a team of veterinary doctors. However, it succumbed around noon.
The postmortem examination was conducted in the presence of senior forest officials as per protocol. Those who laid the snare have been identified and a probe is in progress to apprehend the culprits soon, they said.
