Forest Minister orders probe

Hunsur: A carcass of a two-year-old leopardess, suspected to have been shot by poachers was found with bullet injuries at Guledahalla region in Hunsur Regional Forest Division in Periyapatna taluk. Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre has ordered for a probe to ascertain the cause behind its death.

Forest Department staff, who were on patrolling found the carcass of the leopardess on Monday morning and informed the higher officials. The officials, who rushed to the spot, conducted a spot inspection besides registering a case. It is suspected that the leopardess may have been shot by poachers using a country-made gun.

During post-mortem, three bullets were found lodged in the body of the leopardess. As per the procedure, viscera samples from the dead leopardess were collected and sent to a lab for testing. The investigation would be taken up after receiving the lab report, said Deputy Conservator of Forests  (DCF) Kurubanathan.

Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre, who took a serious note of the incident has ordered a probe. He has written a letter in this regard to the Chief Wildlife Warden, in which he has stated that poaching of wild animals is still going on and this incident is an example for it.

Khandre, has stating that patrolling has failed and demanded action on the patrolling staff.