Chhendipada: A few days after a leopard was found dead near the ordnance factory in Titlagarh of Bolangir district, another leopard was found dead under mysterious circumstances at the foothills of Rangamatia in Kanloi reserve forest under Chhendipada forest range in Angul, Saturday.
Locals on their way to collect leaves and firewood spotted the carcass of the leopard and alerted the forest officials and fellow villagers.
Chhendipada ranger Durgacharan Sahu, foresters Kalakar Pradhan, Dipak Kumar Mohanty, guards Kamal Lochan Pradhan, Dinabandhu Nayak and other officials reached the spot and launched a probe.
The carcass with no signs of external attack was seized and sent to Angul for post-mortem by a team of OUAT scientists and the chief district veterinary officer to ascertain the exact reason behind the animal’s death.
The Angul DFO and a team of veterinarians reached the spot and took stock of the situation.
“We are clueless on the death of the animal. The exact reason will be ascertained after the arrival of post-mortem report,” the ranger said.
ACF Srikant Behera also reached the spot and launched a probe. A Royal Bengal Tiger had died in Satkosia Sanctuary while another leopard was found dead in Pallahara forest last year.
PNN