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Seven blackbuck died out of fear after seeing the big cat take down one of their group members.
A sizable leopard population can be found near Gujarat’s Kevadia where the Statue Of Unity is located, with a large population in Shoolpaneshwar Wildlife Sanctuary. (IMAGE: PTI)
A leopard attacked and killed a blackbuck deer in the early hours of January 1 near Gujarat’s Statue of Unity. Following the attack, seven more deer reportedly died seeing the leopard hunt down the blackbuck. The local forest department has launched an investigation into the matter.
According to reports by news agencies, this is the first time a leopard strolled into the jungle safari park near Statue of Unity which is surrounded by the Shoolpaneshwar Wildlife Sanctuary. The mega monument is itself located within the periphery of the Kevadia forest division. That area is known for its leopard population as well.
The leopard, a young one, breached the well-fenced boundaries of the park near the world’s tallest statue. It went on to kill one blackbuck and seeing the big cat take down the blackbuck deer, the other remaining seven blackbucks in the herbivore enclosure died from shock and panic, forest officials said.
Forest department officials said that all the eight carcasses were sent for post-mortem and then they were cremated.
A forest official told broadcaster NDTV that this was the first time a wild leopard entered the safari park.
- Location :
Kevadiya, India
