Leopard found dead in Pench buffer zone in MP

Carcass of a leopard, suspected to have been electrocuted by poachers, was found near Karmajhiri village in the buffer zone of Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR) today, a senior official said.
The nearly four-year-old big cat was possibly killed with the help of an electric trap last night, PTR Field Director Shubranjan Sen told PTI.
He said the trap has been recovered from the spot and that investigation is underway to identify and arrest the poachers.
"After the patrol party found the dead mammal and passed on the information, top forest officials immediately reached the site," Sen said, adding that the body parts of the leopard were intact.

He said post-mortem of the feline was conducted as per the National Tiger Conservation Authority's (NTCA) guidelines.
The incident has sent the alarm bell ringing given that the dead leopard was found near core area.