Mumbai: The forensic report on the cause of death of a five-year-old leopard on the Shilonda trail at the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) last December raises more queries than it answers.
The investigations were carried out by the Forensic Science Laboratory at Kalina. "The report states there are no gun-shot powder traces on the skin samples that were sent for investigation. Also, no poison has been found. So this rules our poaching," said Vikas Gupta, chief conservator of forests, SGNP.
The forensic report does not give any reason for cause of death. Gupta said the forest department would continue its investigation but the cause may not be known.
The preliminary post-mortem conducted by Mumbai Veterinary College doctors showed six injuries on the leopard's right flank. Its liver was punctured and it showed internal haemorrhage (bleeding). The doctors had recommended histopathological investigations and tissues selected by them had been sent to the laboratory. The injuries were four to five days old.
Sources said no X-ray examination of the body was done. It would have helped to rule out if there was a metal in the body or not. "The body was moved from the site even before any official could reach the site or evidence could b collected. It is surprising it was handled so shoddily as there are regular workshops on what is to be done when a dead wild cat is found," sources said.
SGNP recently held a workshop for forest guards on how to collect details from a crime scene, how to record evidence and how to file a first information report (FIR).
Naturalist Krishna Tiwari said this is always the case when a dead wild cat is found. "Leopards live to be 10-12-years-old and the cat which was found dead was only five-years-old. The leopards are under threat," he said.
