In a shocking development, the carcass of a dead male leopard was discovered nearly four weeks after its death near a forest guard checkpost at Badshapur in Gurgaon. Local residents who found the body were intrigued by the stench of the leopard's body yet, the officials who man the checkpost did not spot the scent! An official went on to claim that it was "confusing" as it "could have been any dead animal." The Aravalli hills have a significant leopard population.

Only last year, the Gurgaon Wildlife Department has admitted that poaching of the big cats has been happening in the region.

The same area, Badshapur, had also been in the news after an injured three-year-old leopard cub was found here in December last year. In fact, the current makeshift patrol centre has been set up to rescue and protect the leopard population among other wild animals and two forest guards were also stationed here, after the incident.

The locals seemed to be better informed of the current animal's movement than the forest guards and were quick to point out that the leopard must have gotten stuck in the sharp brambles around a poultry dumpyard and the injured beast must have succumbed to its injuries.

Besides forest posts at Gairatpur village, the department has constructed makeshift posts at Aravalli Retreat, Raisina Village, Maneser, Gwal Pahadi, Sehrawan, Bhondsi and Damdama areas. These places are known for high population of leopards.

"We may never know how this poor leopard died. But every leopard lost in the Aravallis is a matter of concern. They are the guardians of this precious range of hills that are the only hope for an environmentally secure NCR. We must do everything possible to keep the Aravallis and the wild leopards that still live there, safe", Belinda Wright, Executive Director, Wildlife Protection Society of India.