Killer leopard identified, villagers near DTR told to be alert

BAREILLY: Forest department has identified the leopard that killed and partially ate another leopard. The partially eaten carcass was found in a field at Sumernagar village adjacent to Palia range of Dudhwa Tiger Reserve (DTR) on April 7.
A picture of this massive leopard, about five years old, was captured by motion sensor cameras installed by forest department near the spot where carcass of a sub-adult leopard was recovered.

According to field director, DTR, Ramesh Pandey, “We have spotted the leopard which showed signs of cannibalism after it killed another male leopard near Sumernagar village recently. This leopard, like a tiger, was marking its territory by spraying pheromones, a chemical substance released by animals. Its behavior was quite aggressive as its tail was pointing upwards. We have alerted nearby villages to be careful and specially keep children away from the forest area.”

After recovering the sub-adult leopard’s carcass in an agricultural field at Sumernagar village, forest department set up camera traps in the area to monitor the leopard. The idea was to identify the big cat and minimize the possibility of man-animal conflict. There were injury marks on its body confirming that it was the same carnivore which had killed another leopard possibly in a fight over territory.

Pandey said, “The activities of this leopard suggest that it is dominating male and may pose a threat to children or cattle. That is why we have advised locals to be alert and cautious and not allow children to go alone near forest area.”