MH-LEOPARD

In a shocking incident, a

six-month-old leopard cub, which was dragged and injured by

locals in Maharashtra, has succumbed to the assault.

A video of the incident, at Koylari village near the

Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve in Gondia forest division of

Vidarbha region, has gone viral on social media platforms.

Forest officials said three persons have been held in

connection with what appears to be a barbaric torture of the

wild cat.

The weakened cub, which was rescued on January 6, died

the next day during treatment at Kohmara village, an official

said.

Some local villagers abused the cub by dragging its

tail and dumping it on ground in an open area in the forest,

the official said. They clicked pictures and took 'selfies'

while the dehydrated cub lay on the ground, he added.

The viral video shows villagers assaulting the hapless

cub and a villager dragging it across the open field and

flinging it around.

Gondia deputy conservator of forest Yuvraj S told PTI

that on receiving information about the leopard cub being

thrashed by locals, forest officials rushed to theinjured

spot and found it unconscious.

"We immediately provided necessary medication to the

injured cub, which was suffering from diarrhoea, and kept it

under observation," he said.

"During a search in the area, we also found a

sub-adult leopard, aged around one-and-a-half years. We took

it under our care and provided necessary medication, after

which it was released in the forest," he said.

Asked about action against the perpetrators, he said

based on videographic evidence, three persons were arrested

and are now in police custody.

The three were identified as Prakash Puram, Lokesh

Jhade and Asif Sheikh. They were produced in a local court and

sent to police custody till Friday.

Another forest official said locals who indulged in

the gruesome act clicked 'selfies' with the cub and later

uploaded them on social media sites.