Villagers kill leopard by arranging snare trap in Andhra Pradesh’s Metlapalli; case booked

A leopard which was caught in a snare trap died in the reserve forest at Metlapalli village, Gannavaram mandal in Andhra Pradesh’s Krishna district on Thursday (December 19, 2024.)

“The male leopard was trapped in the snare arranged for boars by some villagers,” Shanti Priya Pandey, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF-Wildlife), said.

“Villagers who noticed the dead leopard alerted the forest and police officers. The accused would be booked under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972,” Ms. Shanti Priya said.

Speaking to The Hindu, Rajahmundry Conservator of Forests (CF), B.N.N. Murthy said the viscera samples of the animal would be collected and all procedures would be followed under National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).

“A veterinary doctor will conduct postmortem and the process will be videographed and photographs will be taken to ascertain the cause of the death,” Mr. Murthy said.

“A case has been registered and investigation is on,” the CF said. The Krishna district police visited the spot.