In a shocking incident, two leopards, including one cub were found dead in the Ramavaram reserve forest area in Khammam District on Sunday. Officials suspect a case of poisoning.

According to sources, the partially decomposed carcasses of the two leopards, both female, were recovered by the Forest department staff near a hillock in the reserve forest in Abbugudem beat of Ramavaram forest range in Kothagudem forest division in the morning.

The carcass of the adult leopard, believed to be the mother, had its paws chopped off and the cub was found barely 200 metres away from her mother in thick bushes. A team of veterinarians conducted a post-mortem on the spot.

Kothagudem Divisional Forest Officer S Shantha Ram said, “it appeared that the two leopards had been poisoned to death five to six days ago. The viscera samples of the two leopards were sent to the forensic science laboratory in Hyderabad to ascertain the exact cause of their death.”

Shantaram added, “We came to know about a recent case of cattle killing in Abbugudem but the villagers did not inform us. They might have placed poisoned meat to kill the leopards. If we had been informed we would have taken measures to trap the animal. While no FIR has been booked yet, a complaint has been filed with the Forest department. We will conduct our investigation. Police case will be booked when required. Encroachers from forest lands will be removed."

Also Read: Man eating Tiger killed by shooting

By M. Divya Shri