Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Another leopard run over on highway.

RAJKOT: In yet another incident, a leopard died after being run over by a speeding vehicle near Savarkundla late on Saturday night.

According forest officials, the wild cat was run over near Sarvoday petrol pump on Savarkundla-Amreli state highway.

"We rushed to the spot and found that it was a female leopard aged around eight-years-old. She was crossing the road and was hit by a speeding vehicle. We have conducted a postmortem of the wild animal,'' said Laksmidas Bhalodiya, range forest officer, Savarkundla, Amreli district.

Sources said that this was third incident since April 1 when wild animals have died in road accident. Two leopards and two Asiatic lions have died been run over by vehicles on the highways in Amreli and Junagadh district.

Earlier, on May 16, a four-year-old male leopard was run over on Una-Kodinar highway in Junagadh district.

On April 1, two lions were run over by speeding vehicle on Bhavnagar-Somnath coastal highway. A group of lions was crossing the busy coastal highway on April 1 night near Jafarabad, but a vehicle ran over them. Both lions had died on the spot.

Moreover, at least six lions have died in rail accidents in Amreli district in last three months.

"This is a serious issue that needs to be addressed. The number of wild animals dying in road accidents is increasing. Forest department must put up sign boards on all stretches where wild animals are found in good numbers,'' says Chirag Acharya, a wildlife activist from Savarkundla.

"Forest department must identify ways to put up signboards about wildlife presence and if necessary, they must construct speed breakers as well,'' Acharya said.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/rajkot/Another-leopard-run-over-on-highway/articleshow/35953544.cms

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