A day after a total of four leopards were found dead on August 2, the principal chief conservator of forests Jai Raj directed that a red alert be declared in the Garhwal region. In a letter to the principal chief conservation of forests (wildlife)/chief wildlife warden on the weekend, the PCCF stated that necessary actions have to be taken after three leopards were found dead not far from each other. He has directed a red-alert in the Garhwal region. In addition to this, the case of the leopard deaths has to be investigated within 15 days. Directing that the cause of death of the big cats be ascertained, he has further asked that copies of the post mortem reports should be sent to his office. The PCCF has said that he should be informed as soon as the viscera test report is received. Personal efforts should be made to secure the report soon.
It will be recalled here that on August 2, department staff on patrol discovered leopard bodies in Chidiyapur range of Haridwar forest division, Laldhang range of Lansdowne forest division and Rawasan range of Rajaji tiger reserve during the morning. These leopards are estimated to be four to five years old. Additionally, a leopardess aged about three years was also found dead in Lalpani compartment of Dehradun forest division on the same day. In his written communication to the chief wildlife warden, the Rajaji tiger reserve director PK Patro informed that the bodies of the three leopards in Lansdowne forest division, Haridwar forest division and Rajaji tiger reserve were found within one kilometre radius which is suspicious. Three teams of the Lansdowne and Haridwar forest divisions along with Rajaji tiger reserve had been formed to probe the area concerned. The dog squad from Rajaji tiger reserve was also sent to the area. Considering the scenario, it is suspected that the big cats were poisoned probably in retribution. It has been seen in such cases in the past that owners of cattle killed by big cats at times, poison the kills to kill the big cat either in retribution or to prevent the big cat from killing more cattle.