Bhubaneswar: A day after reports surfaced about the carcass of a Royal Bengal Tiger being recovered from Damodarpada jungle of Debrigarh sanctuary near Khajuria village, Bargarh district, Forest & Environment Minister Bijayshree Routray Monday clarified that it was actually of a leopard.
“Initial reports of the expert team suggest that the carcass of the animal recovered in Debrigarh forest of Bargarh is of a leopard. The leopard was buried there after its death,” Routray said.
The exact reason behind the death can only be ascertained after getting the test reports from the forensic lab, Routray added.
Officials informed that the mortal remains of the animal have been sent to the Wildlife Institute in Dehradun for examination.
Earlier in the day, PCCF Wildlife Sandeep Tripathy also clarified saying, “The DFO of Debrigarh who was asked to make a spot visit has informed that it is a 2-3-week-old leopard carcass.”
Meanwhile, the wildlife officials lodged a complaint and have initiated an investigation into the incident.
It may be noted here that the carcass recovered from the jungle Sunday was initially suspected to be of a Royal Bengal tiger. Villagers said that the animal was killed by some poachers or timber mafia who buried the carcass inside the deep forest after extracting its teeth and nails.
Prima facie, the decomposed carcass indicated that poachers had removed its nails and teeth while its head was also found detached from the body. It is suspected that miscreants might have killed the animal a week ago before burying it in the deep forests.
Villagers added the mafia could not trek through the jungle to smuggle wood for fear of the animal. Hence the finger of suspicion pointed towards the mafia who might have had a role in the elimination of the animal.
PNN