Edited By: Akash Sikarwar • Reported By: Animesh Jain | Lipi • 14 Nov 2025, 11:24 AM

Khargone (MP): A two-year-old female leopard was found dead in the Cheechli beat of Kasrawad forest range in Khargone district, triggering shock and concern among forest officials and local villagers. Blood was found oozing from the leopard’s mouth, and preliminary investigation suggests that the big cat died after consuming a poisoned chicken.

Khargone’s Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Ramesh Rathore confirmed that the incident came to light when farmer Vijay Chauhan spotted the carcass in his field and immediately informed the Forest Department. A team reached the spot and discovered that someone had tied a chicken laced with poison—intended to trap animals—near the farmland. The leopard consumed it and collapsed shortly after.

Sniffer Dog Team Finds Crucial Clues

A sniffer dog team was deployed to trace the trail. The dog followed the scent for nearly a kilometre and stopped near a location linked to individuals involved in trapping wild boars that damage crops.

Forest officials suspect that the trap was originally meant for wild boars, but the leopard accidentally fell victim.

However, the department has not ruled out the possibility of occult practices or ritualistic motives, which have been reported in forest-adjacent villages before. Officers revealed that a male leopard was likely the original target, but the female leopard got trapped instead, after which the accused fled the area.

Blood Found at the Mouth, Organs Intact

Though blood was found coming out of the leopard’s mouth, all internal organs appeared intact during external examination. The carcass has been sent for post-mortem and viscera analysis, which will confirm the exact cause of death.

This region falls within the Narmada Forest Parikrama route, a known corridor for wildlife movement. The incident has sparked fear and anger among villagers as well as forest staff.

Case Registered Under Wildlife Protection Act

The Forest Department has registered a case under the Wildlife Protection Act and launched a search for four suspects believed to be involved in setting up the poisoned trap.

Officials have assured strict action, stating that killing a leopard—an endangered and protected species—is a serious wildlife crime.

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