Three held for burning leopard carcass in Karnataka

Tumakuru: The Karnataka Forest Department arrested three people for allegedly burning the carcass of a leopard without informing forest officials at Gauragondanahalli Gate in Tumakuru taluk.

The incident came to light after a video showing the leopard carcass being burnt was circulated on social media. Acting on the video, forest officials traced and arrested the three accused, GD Shivakumar, Narayanappa and Chandrashekar, all residents of Gauragondanahalli.

According to officials, Narayanappa had allegedly placed a trap in his agricultural field to prevent wild animals from entering the farm. The leopard subsequently got caught in the trap and died.

Instead of informing the Forest Department, the villagers allegedly decided to dispose of the carcass by setting it on fire. Some youngsters from the village recorded the incident on their mobile phones and shared the video on social media, following which forest officials initiated an inquiry.

The department subsequently identified the persons allegedly involved and took them into custody. Officials are investigating the circumstances in which the leopard became trapped and whether other people were involved in disposing of the carcass.

The incident has once again highlighted the risks posed by the use of snares and traps in agricultural areas located close to wildlife habitats. Forest officials have repeatedly advised residents not to set traps for wild animals and to immediately alert authorities if wildlife enters farmland or is found injured or dead.

A similar incident involving a leopard being burnt after being trapped had earlier been reported in Tumakuru district, underlining the continuing concerns over human-wildlife conflict in the region.

Officials are expected to ascertain whether the trap was deliberately laid and determine the exact circumstances surrounding the leopard’s death. Further action will be taken based on the findings of the investigation.