In an instance that emerged rather late, a leopard was found dead in an agricultural field in Nizamabad district about 10 days ago.
The two-year-old sub adult was a female. The post mortem report revealed that the feline might have died during a territorial skirmish. Poisoning was ruled out, hence any foul play too, informed District Forest Officer N.V.S.N. Prasad.
Strangely, at least five out of the six known leopard deaths over the last year and half have taken place in Nizamabad district alone. Two of them were killed in what were presumed to be road accidents, while one came under a train. Another was found hanging from an electric pole.
Mr. Prasad confirms that majority of the leopard deaths in the district were highway accidents. A request was placed to the National Highways Authority of India to consider construction of speed breakers, but the proposal was shot down citing lack of statutory provisions.
Barricading on both sides was not an acceptable solution, as it would result in isolation of genetic pool and inbreeding.
However, the reserve forest in Nizamabad extending up to Jagtial is seeing burgeoning big cat population, which could be another reason for the frequent deaths reported from here, says Mr. Prasad. “We have a few reports from the railway gang-men that had seen leopards with cubs passing by during night. Proliferation of the species also results in more territorial fights,” he says.