Bhubaneswar: Forest officials have arrested one person for allegedly hunting a leopard in a forest in Odisha’s Sambalpur district.
Speaking to media persons on Thursday, Rairakhol DFO Arabinda Mohanty said a team of Forest officials from Nakatideula range and Rairakhol division had found the leopard lying beside a road in Landimal reserve forest during patrolling on May 6. The leopard, which had sustained critical injuries after being shot, was rescued by the Forest officials.
After they informed the higher authorities about the condition of the leopard, a team of veterinarians from OUAT in Bhubaneswar was sent for its treatment on the direction of the DFO.
While the 10-year-old male leopard died during treatment on May 7, the veterinary team recovered three bullets from its body during post-mortem.
Following this, the Forest officials started investigation and arrested the poacher. They also seized a country-made gun and three live cartridges from his possession. Another person involved in the shooting is absconding.
The arrested person, who belongs to Penthabahal village under the forest range, has admitted to have killed the leopard with his hunting gun, the DFO said.
