Female leopard dies after getting trapped in barbed wire fence

A two-year-old female leopard died after getting entangled in a barbed wire fence on private land near Ayyanpathi in the Madukkarai Forest Range on Sunday.
Forest officials said leopards frequently move out of forest areas such as Walayar, Moolamathi and Chinnampathy, located along the Coimbatore district borders, in search of food. Instances of livestock such as goats and poultry being preyed upon in fringe villages have also been reported.
On Saturday, a leopard that had strayed out of the forest entered a privately owned land near Moolamathi. The animal reportedly got trapped in a barbed wire fence and died on the
spot.
Local residents alerted the Madukkarai Forest Department, following which officials rushed to the scene, recovered the carcass and conducted a preliminary inquiry.
Forest authorities confirmed that the deceased animal was a two-year-old female leopard. A post-mortem examination was conducted at the site, and officials said the exact cause of death would be ascertained after receipt of the veterinary report.
Further investigation is under way.