Nabarangpur, Oct 8: The carcass of a leopard was discovered in a farm field near Naktisemeda Semardihi village under Raighar Forest Range in Odisha’s Nabarangpur district on Wednesday, officials said.

The incident has shocked locals and forest officials alike, especially since tiger sightings in the region have been virtually nonexistent during recent wildlife census efforts.

Leopard Found Inside Maize Field
The tiger’s body was found inside a maize field, raising suspicions of foul play. Preliminary investigations suggest the wild animal may have been killed the previous night. The area borders Chhattisgarh’s Sitanadi Wildlife Sanctuary, leading officials to believe the tiger may have strayed from the sanctuary into Odisha territory.

Also Read: Odisha: Melanistic Royal Bengal Tiger Skin Seized In Similipal Wildlife Sanctuary, Four Arrested

Forest Department Launches Probe
The Nabarangpur Forest Division has seized the carcass and initiated a detailed investigation. Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Shubhendu Kumar Behera visited the site and is overseeing the investigation.

Meanwhile, the Chhattisgarh Forest Department has been informed about the incident to coordinate cross-border wildlife monitoring.