JOIN USA leopard aged around two years was found dead on the Shivamogga-Shikaripur Road in the Yerekatte State forest area in the taluk on Tuesday night.
The locals found the carcass lying on the roadside around 8.30 pm on Tuesday and informed the officials concerned, sources in the Forest department said.
Shikaripur Assistant Conservator of Forest, Rajanna, told Deccan Herald over the phone that the Yerekatte forest area was home to leopards and deer.
“The leopard seems to have been run over by a speeding vehicle while crossing the Shivamogga-Shikaripur main road after drinking water from a tank near Taralaghatta village. The animal has sustained severe injuries on its chest and mouth,” he said.
Carcass burnt
After postmortem, the carcass was burnt at a nursery of the forest department in the town. This is the first such incident reported in the region.
A team headed by the assistant conservator of forest has been formed to find out the exact cause of the animal’s death, Rajanna said.