KATHMANDU, Nepal–Five common leopards have reportedly died mysteriously within past four days in two village in Kaski district, 200 kilometer south west of the capital Kathmandu.
A 10-year-old male leopard and a five-month-old cub were found dead in Bhalam of the district, Saturday morning. There are no visible injuries in the leopards which were found to be foaming.
The mysterious death of leopards one after another has points that wild cats are under threat.
thehimalayantimes quoting district forest official Madhav Prasad Baral reported that, one big cat found in a maize field while another was laying in the nearby jungle.
Just three days ago, three leopards were found dead in the vicinity of Bhalam . Baral said all four leopards had died from poisoning.
Villagers were suspected of keeping toxicant in the meat after leopards menace as they had complained the wild cat made prey dozen of livestock after entering human settlement several months ago.
A veterinary doctor at the district Livestock Office said post-mortem reports discovered traces of poison in the bodies of all the leopards and forensic test will reveal the type of poison.
As per the data of District Forest Office a dozen leopards were found dead this year and another 15 last year.