Bhopal/Narmadapuram (Madhya Pradesh): A female leopard, aged around 2.5 to 3 years, died after coming in contact with a live electrical wire near the power house of the Ordnance Factory in Itarsi on Friday evening. The incident occurred around 5 PM and was reported by factory staff.
Preliminary findings suggest the leopard was hunting the peacock when it came into contact with the live wire and was electrocuted. The forest team conducted a site inspection and moved the leopard’s body to the Bagdev forest outpost. A postmortem will be performed, after which the leopard will be cremated.
According to information, on Friday evening, a peacock ventured towards the powerhouse of the Ordnance Factory in Itarsi. A leopard, sitting nearby, watched and decided to make the peacock its dinner. The leopard slowly started following it. The powerhouse is surrounded by a 10-12-foot-high wire mesh. The peacock realised that it was being chased by the leopard. Speeding up, the peacock tried to escape but could not. The leopard caught the peacock but came in contact with the live wires. Both died!
The electric shock led to the leopard’s death. Later, a group of factory workers were exiting the premises when they found the body. The staff immediately contacted the forest department. Forest officials, including Ranger Mahendra Gaur and SDO Man Singh Maravi, arrived at the site by 6:30 PM. The leopard’s body was found under an electric pole near the powerhouse, with a peacock partially clenched in its mouth. Peacock feathers were also seen entangled in a high-tension wire, about 10 feet above ground. Forest officials sent the body for postmortem after which the leopard is to be cremated.
