Date:06/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/06/stories/2008040655200600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Three held for causing the death of leopards

Staff Reporter

Sangareddy: Police arrested three farmers for poisoning the three leopards, which were found dead by forest rangers in Sherkhanpalli village on Friday. They were remanded in Medak court on Saturday for the offence punishable under Sections 9 of 1972 and Section 51 of Wild Life Protection Act.

According to District Forest Officer , the farmers used to chain a dog at the farm during night to protect the crop. The leopards killed the dog and ate a portion of it and left the carcass there itself.

The next day, the furious trio sprinkled pesticide on the carcass. In the night, the leopards returned and ate away the remaining part of the prey and died a painful death.