JALPAIGURI: A leopard was beaten to death and its claws chopped off by villagers at Dhumkipara forest in Madarihat on Saturday evening. The
hapless animal, that had got caught in a trap laid to catch rabbits, was dumped at the Dhumkipara tea-garden. While the carcass has been sent for a post-mortem, forest officials of Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar have launched a search for the culprits.
Around 3 am on Sunday, some villagers spotted the carcass of a leopard lying at the tea-garden. They informed the forest department which sent a team of officials immediately. It was discovered that all four claws of the animal had been chopped off. According to the divisional forest officer of Cooch Behar, the claws were chopped for the tiger's nails that are worn for good luck and health by locals.
"It seems they were not poachers. The trap had been laid to catch rabbits. Unfortunately, the leopard got trapped. But since the skin was not taken, it doesn't appear that poachers were involved. We are looking for the culprits and hope to arrest them soon," said Om Prakash, divisional forest officer (DFO).
The adult male might have strayed from the forest, said some villagers. Even though forest officials claimed it was trapped, they suspect it was caught on the fringes of the Dhumkipara forest.
In 2003, a leopard was similarly trapped by villagers at Nagrakata and beaten to death. Villagers feasted on the carcass after which several were arrested. "Leopards stray into tea-gardens and villages frequently in this area. Villagers often use rabbit traps to catch them. It seems to have happened this time as well. But this time, the animal was not only killed but its claws were chopped off, which is a worry. We must ensure that leopards are not killed for claws again," added Om Prakash.
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