Third leopard poached in a week in Kangra

Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, February 26

A dead leopard was recovered from the forest area near Jadrangal in Kangra district.

Sources here said the claws and jaws of the leopard were missing which indicated that it was killed by poachers. They killed the animal for their jaws claws and hides that are sold in China and other South East Asian countries where these are used in traditional medicines.

This is the third leopard killed in a week in Kangra district. On February 18, two leopards were found dead in wire traps laid by poachers in forests near Palampur. Though forest officials have registered a case, no arrests have been made.

Last year, the police caught poachers from Bhatiyat in Chamba district and recovered hides ofleopards and body parts of other wild animals.

Forest Conservator Pradeep Thakur said anything could be said after the post-mortem of the animal.

Sources, however, said the leopard was killed after being trapped in a wire trap. The leopards are protected under the Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act and killing them was a non-bailable offence.

Due to winters and low temperatures, the wild animals migrate from snow-bound areas of the Dhauladhar sanctuary to lower hills, increasing the chances of poaching.

Jeollen Anderson, a US citizen, running an organisation for protecting and treating stray animals, says that these days, lots of cases of stray dogs and cows being trapped are coming to the fore. Many time, she has rescued injured dogs, cats and pigs and cows. These animals were caught in wire traps laid by poachers.

Some animals got injured due to another kind of trap in which an explosive substance is kept wrapped in wheat flour and other eatables.

As an animal tries to swallow the bait, the explosive bursts in its mouth, causing it severe injury. He found a stray dog with his mouth blown off due to explosive, she said.