PUNE: A six-year-old leopard was found dead on Wednesday morning in a forest at Mhatobachi Alandi near Wadki, about 30km away from the city.Some villagers spotted the leopard and informed the forest department. An experts’ team comprising forest officials and a veterinary doctor reached the spot and examined the male leopard. The team prima facie concluded that it died a natural death as no symptoms of food poisoning was found.The carcass was sent to the Aundh hospital for autopsy and the viscera was preserved for seeking expert opinion from the forensic science laboratory. A case of accidental death was registered under the Wild Life Protection Act.Assistant conservator of forest Madhukar Telang told TOI, “There is fewer presence of leopards in jungles at Wadki, Ramdara and Mhatobachi Alandi. An inquiry conducted with the local villagers revealed that the leopard had not attacked or killed human being and livestock. We prima facie feel that the leopard had died a natural death. After receiving the post-mortem and expert reports, we will be in a position to ascertain the exact cause of its death.”Driver fleesA two-year-old male leopard was killed after it was hit by an unidentified vehicle near Pallavi hotel on Ahmednagar-Manmad road on Tuesday night. The leopard was found lying on a divider by some villagers, who contacted the Ahmednagar police and forest officials.The leopard came out from a sugar cane field and was crossing the road when it was hit by a speeding vehicle. The vehicle driver fled without giving information of the incident to anybody.

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