This is the shocking moment sick residents swing a leopard cub by its tail and taunt it before posing for snaps next to its limp body.
According to local media, the six-month-old leopard was abused in the village of Koylari near Sadak Arjuni in the western Indian state of Maharashtra and is currently in a critical condition.
The injured female cub, reportedly around 16 months old, was also found in the same area the following day but the local authorities do not believe that the two incidents are connected.
Forest official Yuvraj S. told local media: “Both cubs are undergoing treatment, the smaller cub is critical.”
The forest department was informed that a group of locals was abusing a cub, but by the time they arrived the villagers had already left the scene.
Local media has identified three of the men, named Prakash Puram, Asif Sheikh and Lokesh Zade – who is reportedly the man swinging the defenceless cub by its tail.
Wildlife Trust of India spokesman Anil Kumar Nair said: “The small cub could be easily dragged as it was dehydrated and weak. Both the cubs are in shock.”
According to local media, no reports have been filed against the men in the footage for injuring the cub.
Local vet Dr NM Khodaskar said that the “small cub is critical” while the older cub has “shown signs of improvement”.
It is unclear whether the local authorities are investigating the incident.
Story By: Lee Bullen, Sub-Editor: Michael Leidig, Agency: AsiaWire
