Leopard found dead in Dewas jungle

INDORE: Body of a fully-grown leopard was found in jungles of Gandharvapuri in Dewas district of Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday.

The leopard, believed to be 12 years of age, was found dead by forest guards during routine beat coverage, said chief conservator of forests PC Dubey.

"Initial probe by veterinarians suggests that the wild cat seems to have met a natural death," he said adding the viscera was being collected for further examination.

The viscera will be sent to forensic laboratory in Jabalpur, he added.

On December 18, a 15-year-old tiger was found dead in Dewas jungles with its paws and teeth missing. Forest officials had subsequently arrested three persons for cutting them off from the wild cat.

Dubey claimed that unlike the tiger, all body parts of the leopard were intact. Villagers near the jungles also confirmed that they did not see leopard movement in the area for long.

The leopard’s body was sent for an autopsy. Forest officials plan to cremate the wild cat on Wednesday.