Female black panther killed in road accident on Ponda-Panaji highway

Panaji: A female black panther lost her life due to a road accident on the Ponda-Panaji highway on Sunday morning.

According to the forest department, the incident occurred at about 1.30am on Sunday at Konem, Priol-Ponda range.

The autopsy report by govt veterinary surgeon at Usgao is awaited. However the forest department said that the animal suffered “massive head injury” which caused the “skull to fracture” and that “prolonged bleeding must have caused the death”.

“We are tracing CCTV visuals nearby to locate the vehicle. Police assistance is also sought. Officials from the National Forensic Science University visited the accident spot and are helping us in forensic examination and evidence collection,” a forest official told TOI.

RFO Ponda have booked an offence as per Section 9 of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and an inquiry is being carried out, he added.

Forest minister Vishwajit Rane told forest officials to submit a detailed report on the matter.

“Accordingly chief wildlife warden, Goa, also visited the accident spot today. He will be submitting a detailed report.” the official said.

A local resident, who witnessed the accident and alerted the forest department’s rescue squad, said that the rescue team took time to arrive at the location.

“It’s very rare to sight a black panther in this area,” he said. “The animal was clearly struggling to move despite her injuries. She could have survived if help came sooner.”

The panther was eventually rescued by the forest department’s team in Ponda, along with wildlife rescuer and member of the Goa state wildlife board, Charan Desai’s team.

“The absence of emergency wildlife response services in Goa is a glaring issue. The rescuers couldn’t take her to the veterinary hospital at Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary since the zoo, which typically handles wildlife care, is temporarily closed due to a viral outbreak. They don’t even have 24x7 veterinary doctors at the Bondla zoo,” Desai said.

“The animal had to be taken to the Ponda range forest office; however, it succumbed to the injuries on the way,”Desai added.