New Delhi: Taking serious note of the death of a leopard at Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary, National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) Thursday formed a two-member committee to investigate the matter.
According to NTCA officials, the committee comprises Wildlife Crime Control Bureau regional deputy director and NTCA Nagpur regional office AIG.
“The team will visit the spot shortly and submit a report to the NTCA in 10 days,” said Anup Nayak, Member Secretary NTCA.
Notably, the carcass was recovered from Debrigarh forests October 28, 2018. It was initially suspected to be that of a Royal Bengal Tiger. However, autopsy reports revealed that it was that of a leopard’s.
Villagers had alleged that the animal was killed either by the poachers or by the timber mafia who buried the carcass deep in the forests after extracting its teeth and nails.