Nabarangpur: An injured leopard succumbed to starvation in Umerkote, located in Odisha’s Nabarangpur district. The incident came to light after the Forest Department confirmed the animal’s death on Tuesday.
According to officials, the leopard was severely injured, limping, and unable to hunt for food. On several occasions, it ventured into human settlements in neighboring Chhattisgarh in search of sustenance.
Reports indicate that the leopard had attacked a few villagers in the Gariaband district of Chhattisgarh in the past. Alarmed by these incidents, the locals attempted to drive it back into the forest. However, the big cat continued to stray into villages, prompting the villagers to repeatedly chase it away.
Eventually, some residents managed to trap the leopard using a net and handed it over to the Forest Department. Efforts were made to treat the animal and nurse it back to health. However, the leopard, which had a leg injury and had lost several teeth, struggled to eat and regain strength.
The officials had planned to relocate the animal to a safari in Nava Raipur to ensure its survival and care. Unfortunately, before the transfer could take place, the leopard succumbed to starvation and illness, highlighting the challenges of rehabilitating injured wildlife.
