Leopard killed in accident on NH-8

GURGAON: A 12-year-old male leopard died after being hit by a speeding vehicle on NH-8 near Sehrawan village in Manesar late on Friday night.
District forest officer (wildlife) KS Khetkar told TOI that the leopard was crossing the highway when it was hit by a vehicle. The carcass of the leopard was recovered on Saturday morning after some passersby spotted the dead animal.
Archana Chauhan, an advocate who was among the first to spot the leopard while on her way to Pataudi court, said it seemed that the leopard was hit by the vehicle on its back, but it still managed to walk to the bushes along the side of the highway, some 40 metres away.
A senior forest department official, who was present on the spot, said that by looking at the carcass it is clear that the leopard was fully grown and healthy. "There are so many concrete structures and habitation which has come up in the Aravali range which has forced animals to come out in search for food. As a result, wild beasts are found dead colliding with vehicles on the road here," he said.
"The cause of death was the impact caused by an accident late on Friday night. One side of the body was found to be completely broken," Khetkar said. He added that the body of the leopard has been sent for an autopsy after which it will be cremated according to the norms.
Khetkar said this was the second incident of a leopard being run over by a vehicle on NH-8. In 2008, a young leopard was killed on the highway. He said there was no official data on the leopard population, and their numbers can only be verified based on their pug marks.
"We are losing wild animals as there is no wildlife veterinary hospital in place to provide treatment to animals lying unattended after accidents on the roadside," said a local villager.