The Forest Department has arrested one person in connection with the poisoning of two leopards near the Omkara range of Bandipur National Park recently.
The accused was identified as Nagesh Gowda of Hanchipura, where two leopards, about a year old, were poisoned. One of them was a melanistic variant and black in colour.
The accused was produced in court on Monday and remanded in judicial custody.
Jurisdictional ACF Poovaiah told The Hindu that Nagesh admitted to the crime. “He was angry that his dog was killed by the leopards and hence decided to poison the dog’s carcass as an act of revenge,” said Mr. Poovaiah.
Nagesh apparently sprayed insecticide and pesticide on the half-eaten carcass of the dog and the leopards, which returned later, consumed the prey only to die of poisoning.
Though the post-mortem report concluded that the death was due to poisoning the laboratory analysis is yet to be received and Mr. Poovaiah said that it was expected to be submitted by August 25.
If convicted and proved in court, the crime carries a maximum sentence of imprisonment up to 7 years, he added.
As many as three other persons, said to be involved in the crime, are absconding and efforts are on to trace them.
‘He was angry that his dog was killed by the leopards and decided to poison the dog’s carcass’