Leopard carcass at Film City hints at poaching

Forest department officials said the body had decayed and had a wire mesh around it when it was recovered around 5pm.

A mutilated carcass of a four-year-old female leopard was recovered by forest department officials on Friday evening near Jay Malhar sets at Film City in Goregaon.

The mutilated carcass of a four-year-old female leopard recovered by forest department officials near Jay Malhar sets at Film City in Goregaon on Friday. (HT Photo)

Forest department officials said the body had decayed and had a wire mesh around it when it was recovered around 5pm.

“Prima facie this is a case of poaching that had been carried out nearly a month ago. Since it was at an isolated area, the body couldn’t be detected,” said Kishore Thakre, deputy conservator of forest, Thane division.

“A wired trap was laid in the area and it is likely that the leopard fell into it in the night.”

Veterinary officers from Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) visited the site to conduct a post-mortem. However, since the leopard’s body had decayed, the post-mortem could not be completed.

Thakre said the case will be investigated.