Leopard Dies After Capture in Wayanad, NGO Alleges Protocol Violation
A four-year-old male leopard that had killed three goats belonging to a farmer in Wayanad died shortly after being captured and shifted to an animal hospice. The incident has sparked controversy, with an NGO alleging violations of wildlife protocols by forest officials.
Incident Details and Capture
The leopard attacked goats owned by Vasudevan Nair in the pre-dawn hours on Wednesday at Odakolli near Panamaram in Wayanad. This prompted forest officials and rapid response team (RRT) members to rush to the area. The animal was located around 20 meters from the house, near a bamboo grove, at 6:30 AM.
Mananthavady forest range officer Rose Mary Jose stated that the leopard charged at the team on sight, forcing them to fire in the air to drive it away. "The animal was in an extremely weak condition. It was captured using a net and taken to the hospice, where it was declared dead on examination," she said, adding that the death was not due to gunshot injuries.
Officials noted that the same leopard had been sighted at Kambalakkad on Sunday and at Chandakunnu on Monday. Videos of a leopard moving through Panamaram town had also surfaced on Monday, indicating its presence in human-inhabited areas prior to the incident.
NGO Raises Suspicion Over Leopard Death
Ernakulam-based NGO ANEC (Animals and Nature Ethics Community) has filed a petition with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, seeking immediate intervention into the death of the leopard. According to the petition, the leopard was reported to have entered human habitation in the Chethalayam range under the North Wayanad forest division.
Subsequently, a combing operation was conducted by the forest department. The NGO alleges that the leopard was shot by a member of the combing team, in deviation from prescribed protocols. A subsequent narrative was constructed claiming that the animal was injured, weak, and under distress. Officials stated that the animal was to be captured and shifted for treatment to a facility at Kuppadi.
Within a short span, it was disclosed that the leopard succumbed, raising suspicion regarding the cause of death. The petition alleges concerns over recurring incidents of misuse of power in wildlife management, especially involving protected species. It called for postponement of the autopsy of the animal until independent authorities are present to ensure transparency.
Broader Implications and Response
This incident highlights ongoing challenges in human-wildlife conflict management in regions like Wayanad. The death of the leopard under questionable circumstances has drawn attention to the need for stricter adherence to wildlife protection protocols. Forest officials maintain that the animal was weak and died naturally, but the NGO's allegations suggest potential procedural lapses that could impact trust in wildlife conservation efforts.
Authorities are expected to investigate the claims thoroughly, as such cases can influence public perception and policy regarding wildlife interactions. The call for independent oversight in autopsies and similar procedures underscores the importance of accountability in handling protected species incidents.
