(IN): Leopard tragedies

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http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/enviornment/leopard-strays-into-village-beat\

en-to-death_100200751.html

Leopard strays into village, beaten to death June 4th, 2009 - 3:41 pm ICT

by IANS

Lucknow, June 4 (IANS) A leopard was beaten to death in Uttar Pradesh after

it strayed into a village from the neighbouring Kataraniya Ghat wildlife

reserve and mauled a man, police said.

“The leopard had attacked 40-year-old Kallu while he was asleep in his home

in Ghosiayana Chahelva village on the fringes of the wildlife reserve that

is an extension of the famous Dudhwa National Park,” a policeman told IANS

on phone. The incident took place Tuesday night in Bahraich district, 115 km

from Lucknow.

 

“Kallu’s screams attracted the attention of other family members, whose

cries in turn prompted neighbours to rush in with wooden sticks, iron rods

and other weapons they could lay their hands on. They attacked the animal,

who had mauled Kallu by then.”

 

As the leopard tried to escape into the forest, an blow on its head with an

iron rod brought it down following which the mob hammered blow after blow on

the animal. The leopard succumbed to its injuries.

 

A three-member panel of veterinary surgeons carried out an autopsy Wednesday

morning. Kallu was admitted to the Bahraich district hospital where he is

stated to be out of danger.

 

Uttar Pradesh’s principal chief wildlife conservator told IANS: “Our field

officials have registered a case against unnamed villagers and the matter is

being investigated. However, preliminary inquiries indicate the villagers

acted in self defence.”

 

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http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/enviornment/leopard-dies-in-bhopal-national-\

park_100200926.html

Leopard dies in Bhopal national park

 

June 4th, 2009 - 8:58 pm ICT by IANS

 

Bhopal, June 4 (IANS) A 16-year-old leopard, Sheru, died at the Van Vihar

National Park here Thursday, the second death of a big cat in as many days,

a wildlife official said.

“Sheru was brought from the wild in Seoni in 2001 (and) was well till

Wednesday. It had stopped eating anything and died while being treated

Thursday,” Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) H.S. Pabla told IANS.

 

“The death has been natural as the leopard had lived his age. He was around

16 years of age,” Pabla added.

 

A three-year-old tigress, named Ira, died at the park Wednesday.

 

With this, the park has lost 24 big cats in the last five years.

 

They include 15 tigers, five leopards and three lions.

 

Tigress Ira was hale and hearty till Tuesday afternoon but was seen vomiting

in the evening. The animal was brought to the park in October 2006 from

Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, also in Madhya Pradesh, when she was five months

old.

 

Pabla denied there was any laxity in treating the animal.

 

“Park doctor Atul Gupta contacted the veterinarians and started the

treatment but extensive medical assistance by the administration could not

save the tigress who died early Wednesday,” he said.

 

Experts from the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, and the Veterinary

College in Jabalpur were consulted, he said.

 

“She had a high fever (106 degrees) and was breathing heavily. Intense heat

might be the reason for her illness. Her vomiting could have caused

suffocation,” said A.B. Srivastava, who led a three-member doctor’s team.

 

Added park director S.S. Rajput: “Autopsy revealed that the big cat suffered

obstructed oxygen supply following vomiting. This often happens with humans

but is rare among animals.”

 

A committee led by Srivastava will probe the cause of the death. Earlier

this year, a tiger cub, Pancham, who was brought to Van Vihar National Park

for treatment from Pench National Park died April 15, 2009.

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