Leopard dies after falling into well in Nagpur

Nagpur, May 27 (UNI) A full-grown female leopard died of chest and back injuries that it sustained after it fell into a well on the outskirts of the city.

Deputy Conservator of Forests Naresh Zurmure said the animal, aged about four years, broke its backbone and two ribs when it fell into the 22-feet deep well some time on Friday night, and succumbed to the wounds yesterday. The animal is believed to have strayed into the area in search of water, he said.

It was traumatised by the time it was discovered last morning, he said.

Forest department officials shot the leopard with tranquiliser darts to capture it and move it to safety, but the exhausted animal succumbed to its injuries before it could be treated, Mr Zurmure said.

He denied reports that the beast died due to an overdose of tranquiliser, saying it was shot with about 4 millilitres while animals could sustain up to 5 millilitres.

The leopard is believed to have strayed into the area from the territorial forests about 32 km away from the city, evidently due to lack of drinking water and food there, he said.

Meanwhile, a high alert has been sounded in Pench National Park near here after the discovery of the carcasses of a bison, four monkeys and some birds there yesterday. They may have died after drinking what is suspected to have been poisoned water from a pond in the area, Mr Zurmure added.

UNI