The rare melanistic leopard died from its wounds after being discovered wounded on the Tezu-Sunpura route in the Lohit district of Arunachal Pradesh on December 6. It died at the Roing little zoo in the Lower Dibang Valley. Twenty bullets or pellets were found in the animal’s skull and torso by a team of veterinary experts during the postmortem examination.
The DFO of the Lohit Forest Division has been directed to immediately file a wildlife offence report (FIR) in compliance with the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972. After that, an investigating officer will be tasked with conducting the necessary inquiry, apprehending the criminal or criminals, and seizing the hunting implements. According to the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972, hunting wild animals is an offense, and the aforementioned incidence appears to be one of those cases. It has been recommended that the DFO seek the technical support of the Lohit district police in conducting the probe.
A six-person special investigative team led by Conservator of Forests & Namdapha National Park & Tiger Reserve Field Director VK Jawal has been established by the PCCF & Chief Wildlife Warden to carry out a thorough examination into the case. The SIT has been instructed to go to the scene of the incident right away and work with the investigating officer to carry out a thorough inquiry. According to the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972, the black panther is a Schedule-1 animal and one of the endangered large cat species that can be found in Arunachal Pradesh’s woods.
