A gruesome wildlife crime has come to light in Madhya Pradesh’s Guna district, where forest officials have recovered the headless and mutilated carcass of a leopard from the Agra-Hansli forest under the Bhadaura sub-range of the Guna North Forest Division. The discovery was made after local residents alerted authorities.

According to officials, the leopard’s head was missing and its paws had been mutilated, raising strong suspicions that the animal was poached for its valuable teeth and claws, which are often traded illegally in the wildlife black market. Forest authorities, however, said all possible angles are being investigated before drawing final conclusions.

A dog squad has been deployed to assist the investigation, while forest officials are questioning residents of nearby villages and individuals with previous records of wildlife offences. Investigators also believe the leopard may have been killed elsewhere and its carcass dumped in the protected forest area to conceal evidence.

The carcass has been sent for post-mortem and forensic examination to determine the exact cause of death and gather crucial evidence. The incident has renewed concerns over wildlife poaching in Madhya Pradesh, which is home to India’s largest leopard population, with an estimated 3,907 leopards according to the Status of Leopards in India 2022 report. Poaching of leopards is a non-bailable offence under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, carrying stringent penalties.