HT Correspondent
DIBRUGARH, Jan 16: An adult leopard was killed after being hit by a speeding vehicle at 2 No Ghoronia in the Naharkatia area of Upper Assam’s Dibrugarh district on Thursday evening.
Eyewitnesses said the animal was crossing the road when it was struck by a fast-moving vehicle.
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The leopard succumbed to its injuries shortly after the impact.
Local residents expressed concern over frequent incidents of overspeeding on the stretch.
“We immediately informed the forest department. A police team arrived and took custody of the carcass,” said Monimanik Gogoi, a resident of the area, adding that the driver responsible should be booked under the law.
Environmentalists said such incidents are recurring in Upper Assam due to high vehicle speeds, particularly near forested and tea garden areas.
Devojit Moran, an environmentalist, urged drivers to maintain low speeds in wildlife corridors to prevent such fatalities.
Leopards are protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and are listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List due to habitat loss and fragmentation.
In Assam, leopards frequently venture into tea garden and village areas in search of food, often leading to conflict and road accidents.
