Gonikoppal: A carcass of a female leopard has been found in an open well in the coffee estate of Malachira Sharanu Belliappa at Mallur village in Ponnampet taluk yesterday morning.

It is suspected that the leopardess, aged about four years, may have fallen into the well about two days ago and drowned.

Ponnampet Range Forest Department staff removed the carcass from the well, conducted post-mortem on the spot and cremated the carcass.

Thithimathi Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) Uthappa, Ponnampet Range Forest Officer (RFO) Rajappa, Virajpet Dy.SP C.T. Jayakumar, Gonikoppal Circle Inspector Jayaram, Nittur Gram Panchayat President Chekkera Surya Aiyappa and others were present.