Another leopard struck to death by train near Dabhoi

Vadodara: A male leopard, which was frequenting the spot where a female leopard died after being hit by a train nine days ago, met a similar fate near Dabhoi early on Friday morning.
The leopard was lingering near the railway tracks in Orsang Gamdi village for the last few days after the female died on Jan 23.
"The 11-year-old leopard was walking alongside the railway track over the bridge near Orsang Gamdi around 2:30 am when a speeding train caught it off guard and struck it. The leopard was flung from the bridge under the impact and fell on the land below," said Alpesh Maachi, a wildlife activist from Dabhoi.
"This is the same leopard that appeared at this spot after a three-year-old female leopard was killed by a moving train nine days ago. It must have been the mating partner of the female that died and came looking for her. The locals heard its growls at the spot a day after the female's death," Maachi told TOI.
He said they spotted this leopard strolling around the accident spot. "The locals reported that one more leopard was seen near the accident spot with the deceased wild cat," Maachi added.
The locals have suggested installing a fence on both sides of the rail tracks over the bridge to ensure that leopards do not take that route.
However, forest officials said that it is not a feasible proposal and such a fence can endanger the lives of leopards further. The area has a good population of leopards which often stray near the villages in search of food.
In March last year, a train hit a leopard in the same area and it too died of injuries.