Sheopur: Male leopard Pawan, released in the forest of Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh, died after drowning in a drain. According to Additional Chief Forest Officer Uttam Kumar Sharma, the Namibian leopard was found motionless among the bushes on the banks of a drain at 10.30 am on Tuesday. The canal was full of water due to rain.
After a close examination by veterinarians, it was found that he had died. No external injury marks were found on his body. The primary cause of death is drowning. Further information will be known after the post-mortem report. It is worth noting that on 17 September 2022, eight leopards brought from Namibia were released in Kuno National Park in the presence of PM Narendra Modi.
After this, 12 leopards were brought from South Africa on 18 February 2023. Out of a total of 20 leopards, including Pawan, eight leopards have died so far due to illness or accident. 12 live cubs were born to female cheetahs Asha, Jwala and Gamini. All the leopards are locked in the enclosure. Out of these, only Pawan was released in the open forest.