Leopard found dead in Telangana’s Amrabad Tiger Reserve

HYDERABAD: A 9-year-old male leopard was found dead under suspicious circumstances in the Amrabad Tiger Reserve (ATR) in the Nallamala forest, Amaragiri, Kolhapur range of Nagar-Kurnool district.
The leopard’s carcass was discovered by locals at around 11 a.m. on Wednesday, who immediately alerted forest officials.
ATR Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Rohit Gopidi stated that the leopard, in its prime, did not die of old age.Initial observations suggested the death occurred around 30 hours prior to its discovery, as signs of putrefaction had already set in. Importantly, the leopard’s skin, claws, and nails were intact, ruling out the possibility of poaching.
Forest officials considered three possible causes of death: poisoning, electrocution, and a road accident. The carcass was found close to a road, raising suspicion of a vehicle collision.
However, no external injuries were found on the body, making this scenario unlikely. Regarding electrocution, Gopidi clarified, “There were no signs of charring or internal burns during the autopsy, and no nearby fuses went off, indicating no electric fencing in the area.”
Poisoning was also ruled out, as there was no evidence from the autopsy, and flies and maggots feeding on the body did not perish, which would typically indicate the presence of poison.
While internal organs showed no physical injury, the veterinary team noted some kidney putrefaction, which prevented the sending of certain samples for testing.
Samples from the liver, claws, and canines have been sent to the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) in Hyderabad for further analysis, with results awaited to provide clarity.
“Though the exact cause of death is yet to be determined, we are also investigating the possibility of disease, as suggested by veterinary doctors and awaiting the CCMB report,” Gopidi added.
The body has been disposed of as per norms by incinerating it after the autopsy. The ATR is home to an estimated 180 leopards according to the 2022 census, and tiger numbers in the reserve are reportedly increasing, which could be affecting territorial boundaries.
Forest officials are on alert to find any suspicious movements of poachers. Gopidi emphasized, “There is nothing to suggest foul play at this point.”