Leopard found electrocuted atop pole in Telangana, autopsy rules out poaching
Forest officials are still clueless about why the animal climbed the pole.
![Leopard found electrocuted atop pole in Telangana, autopsy rules out poaching](https://sc0.blr1.digitaloceanspaces.com/large/842635-62200-glabgfmgjk-1499148632.jpg)
A four-year-old male leopard was electrocuted in Mallaram village of Nizamabad district, Telangana, on Monday. Doctors, who conducted the autopsy, ruled out poaching as the big cat’s teeth, claws and hide were intact, reported PTI.
The animal’s body was found hanging from the wires. Local villagers alerted the forest officials later.
District Forest Officer VSNV Prasad told PTI that the leopard had climbed the electric pole near Thanakalan forest and got electrocuted. But forest officials are still clueless about why the feline climbed the pole.
“We have no idea why the leopard would have climbed the electric pole,” Prasad told The Times of India. “There is no habitation nearby except a farmhouse...The animal might have climbed the pole to have a better view of the surrounding area. We are just not sure.”
Prasad added that veterinarians had confirmed that the leopard bit on to the electric wires. “We believe it was an accidental death. The leopard was not poached or killed,” he told The Times of India.