Valpoi: Hours after carcass of Leopard was found on the border of Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary in Sattari taluka, State Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane has asked a senior official to conduct an investigation to track down those responsible for the incident.
A full grown male Leopard was found dead in a wired snare trap at Kopordem village in Sattari taluka on Friday morning. The incident occurred on the border of Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary in Sattari taluka.
Responding to the incident, Rane said that he has directed Principal Chief Conservator of Forest to conduct an investigation to track down those responsible for laying wire snare traps for wild animals.
“We will take harsh measures against those involved; such actions will not be tolerated,” the minister said.
“Protection of wildlife is an important aspect of the Forest Department and under the Wildlife Protection Act we are committed to safeguarding and protecting the wildlife (flora and fauna) in the country,” he said.
Sattari taluka has witnessed several incidents of man-animal conflict in the past. In January 2020, a tigress and her three cubs were found dead in the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary. They were allegedly poisoned by local farmers for killing their cattle, officials had said. In 2009, a tiger had died after getting caught in a wired snare in Keri village of Sattari.
