Poachers trap and kill leopard in Chhattisgarh, eat its meat; held trying to sell skin

RAIPUR: Five alleged poachers were arrested in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district after forest officials seized a leopard skin from them in an operation on Thursday.According to the forest department, the accused had trapped the leopard using a snare near a riverbank and later killed it by striking its head with an axe while it was still alive. The animal, around six to seven years old, was then skinned before the accused attempted to sell the hide. The meat was allegedly cooked and eaten by the poachers.Acting on specific inputs, forest officials posed as buyers and laid a trap. The accused — identified as Sundarlal, Dharmu Simrath, Diyalu, Dinesh Kashyap and Gobru — were caught when they arrived to negotiate the deal. The leopard skin was recovered from their possession.Officials said the poachers had targeted the riverbank anticipating wildlife movement during summer, when animals frequently visit water sources. The leopard got caught in the snare set up by the group a few days before the operation.Range officer Pritesh Pandey said hunting of wildlife is a serious offence, and strict action will be taken against those involved. "Animals like leopards are crucial for ecological balance and cannot be valued in monetary terms," he said.A case has been registered under the Wildlife Protection Act, which prescribes stringent punishment and fines for poaching of protected species.Poachers target leopards for a mix of profit, demand in illegal markets, and local beliefs. Most common is skin trade as they fetch high prices in illegal wildlife trade, and are used as decorative items, rugs or fashion products in some markets. Body parts like bones, claws, moustaches and canine teeth are trafficked for black magic and occult practices, said Nitin Singhvi, a wildlife activist.