Haemorrhage killed Palghar leopard

The rescue team trapped the animal after it attacked a forest official

Preliminary post-mortem reports of the leopard that was killed in an accident in Palghar district on Monday have arrived. According to the report, the spotted cat died of excessive haemorrhage. But, sources from the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), where the post-mortem was conducted, have told mid-day that the leopard had a fractured hip, which may have been a result of manhandling during the rescue operation.

Around 9 am on Monday, an unidentified vehicle hit the leo­p­ard near Uplat village. A team of officials of the Dahanu forest department immediately reac­hed the spot and started inspe­cting the area. They were told that the leopard was hiding in one of the bushes in a nearby field. While the officials were inspecting the spot, the leopard attacked the range forest officer and injured four others. Soon after, it was trapped and taken to the SGNP, but, it was declared dead on arrival.

mid-day in its January 30 report had raised questions about whether manhandling by the rescue team caused the leopard's death.

The post-mortem was conducted in the presence of SGNP veterinary officer Dr Shailesh Pethe. Speaking to mid-day, Dr Pethe said, "We are waiting for the final report, but as per the preliminary report, it seems internal haemorrhage and hypovolemic shock led to the leopard's death. It had fractured its hip, too, which may have been caused when the rescue team put excessive pressure on its body to restrain it during the rescue operation."

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