Leopard found dead in Uttarakhand's Bageshwar, cause under probe

Resident Chandrashekhar, who first spotted the animal while on his way to deliver milk, said, “It was struggling and froth was coming out of its mouth.”

The presence of froth led villagers to suspect poisoning. Forest officials, however, said heart failure and starvation appeared more likely, adding that the exact cause would be confirmed after the postmortem.

A member of the team conducting the autopsy said the leopard may have suffered a heart attack and its lungs were not functioning properly.

Forest department SDO M S Gusain said, “The leopard was a male, around six years old. Prolonged starvation may also have contributed to the death. Viscera samples have been preserved for forensic analysis and a detailed report is awaited.”

The incident triggered concern among villagers as the animal was found within the habitation. Officials said clarity on the cause of death will emerge after the postmortem report.