Leopard that killed three goats in Wayanad dies soon after capture

Kozhikode: A four-year-old male leopard that had killed three goats belonging to a farmer at Odakolli near Panamaram in Wayanad in the wee hours of Wednesday died shortly after being captured and shifted to animal hospice and palliative care centre at Kuppadi.The leopard attacked goats owned by Vasudevan Nair in the pre-dawn hours, prompting forest officials and rapid response team (RRT) members to rush to the area. The animal was located around 20m from the house, near a bamboo grove, at 6.30am.Mananthavady forest range officer Rose Mary Jose said the leopard charged at the team on sight, forcing them to fire in the air to drive it away."The animal was in an extremely weak condition. It was captured using a net and taken to the hospice, where it was declared dead on examination," she said, adding that the death was not due to gunshot injuries.Officials said the same leopard had been sighted at Kambalakkad on Sunday and at Chandakunnu on Monday. Videos of a leopard moving through Panamaram town had also surfaced on Monday.NGO raises suspicion over leopard death Ernakulam-based NGO ANEC (Animals and Nature Ethics Community) has filed a petition with ministry of environment, forest and climate change and wildlife crime control bureau seeking immediate intervention into the death of the leopard.As per the petition, the leopard was reported to have entered human habitation in Chethalayam range under North Wayanad forest division. Subsequently, a combing operation was conducted by forest department. It was allegedly shot by a member of the combing team, in deviation from prescribed protocols. A subsequent narrative was constructed claiming that the animal was injured, weak and under distress. Officials stated that the animal was to be captured and shifted for treatment to a facility at Kuppadi.Within a short span, it was disclosed that the leopard succumbed, raising suspicion regarding the cause of death, the petition alleged, raising concerns on the recurring incidents of misuse of power in wildlife management, especially involving protected species. It called for postponement of autopsy of the animal until independent authorities are present.