Female Leopard Found Dead in Nahargarh Forests in Jaipur, Rising Movement Towards Residential Areas Sparks Concern

Jaipur: A disturbing and alarming incident has been reported from the Nahargarh Wildlife Sanctuary in Jaipur, where the carcass of a female leopard was found on Wednesday afternoon, triggering panic within the Forest Department and raising fresh concerns over increasing leopard movement near residential areas.

The leopard’s body was discovered near the Naila Bagh checkpoint, where patrolling forest staff noticed the animal lying lifeless and immediately alerted senior officials.

Carcass Believed to Be 2–3 Days Old

According to Forest Ranger Raghuvendra Singh Rathore, the deceased female leopard was estimated to be around 1.5 to 2 years old. Based on preliminary investigation and post-mortem findings, the Forest Department suspects that the leopard died due to an internal territorial fight.

Officials stated that the leopard’s body had deep injury marks, indicating a violent clash between two leopards, likely a fight for dominance. The carcass is believed to be around two to three days old and was recovered between 3 pm and 4 pm on Wednesday.

Shrinking Habitat and Food Scarcity Increasing Wildlife Conflict

Wildlife experts believe the incident reflects a growing problem in the region, where shrinking forest cover and scarcity of food and water are forcing leopards into frequent encounters, increasing the likelihood of territorial clashes.

Experts further warned that the same factors are pushing leopards to move closer to human settlements in search of resources, raising the risk of human-wildlife conflict.

Concern Over Forest Department Monitoring

The incident has also sparked criticism of the Forest Department’s surveillance system. Wildlife enthusiasts and local residents have questioned how the carcass remained undiscovered for two to three days, despite regular monitoring of the sanctuary.

Calls for Strict Action and Stronger Protection Measures

Following repeated wildlife-related incidents in the area, attention has now shifted towards Forest Minister Sanjay Sharma, with growing demands for strict action against negligence and the introduction of stronger monitoring and conservation measures.

Wildlife activists have urged the government to strengthen forest patrolling, improve tracking systems, and ensure the safety of both wild animals and nearby communities.