MUMBAI: The decomposed carcasses of a three-year-old leopard and an adult sambar were found on the Film City studio premises. While eleven of the leopard’s claws were missing, the sambar’s head was nowhere to be seen, raising suspicions of poaching.

Both carcasses were spotted by a security guard near a set of a television serial at the studio complex in Aarey Colony, located near Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP). The leopard’s carcass was found in a trap while the deer’s carcass was found 100 metres away from the former.

According to officials on duty, this is a case of poaching as vital body parts of both the animals were missing. It is suspected that the animals were killed at least 10 to 15 days ago as most of their internal organs had decomposed. According to officials, carcasses’ condition raises questions as to whether the poachers hail from Film City or surrounding areas.

The police and forest officials have started the panchnama process.

Forest officials, meanwhile, are also initiating a major search operation with the help of the Maharashtra Security Force and volunteers to verify if there are any other poachers present in the vicinity.

It is stated that further investigations would be followed. As of now, both carcasses were taken to SGNP where they were cremated after important procedures were carried out as per the guidelines of the forest. According to the Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI), around 460 leopard deaths were recorded across the country last year (2018).

Till the month of December, the highest nu-mber of leopard deaths was recorded in Uttara-khand — 93 — followed by Maharashtra, with 90 deaths. In the month of November, a tigress named Avni was shot dead in the Ralegaon forests of Yavatmal district.