Leopard found killed in Himachal Pradesh; all four paws hacked

India: In a horrific poaching incident in Himachal Pradesh, outlaws not only hunted down a leopard but also hacked away its four paws.

Suspicion is that the paws were sawed off for the nails which fetch several lakh rupees in the international black market, besides the hide.

The carcass was found in the forests of Nahan town in Sirmaur district, 153 kilometres from Shimla.

Forest officials said the carcass had worms in it, signifying the killing to have taken place at least three to four days ago. They also found shotgun wounds on it. An FIR has been registered under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

As per information received, a forest guard discovered the body during routine rounds at Kyari range. He intimated his seniors who reached the spot and took away the body for forensic analysis.

A similar incident was reported in February 2013 in Kharoh village, of Amb Tehsil in Himachal Pradesh. In that case, the carcass of a leopard was found de-skinned and its paws and nails cut off, leading to a widespread search operation for the hunter.

(Source: India Today)