Dibrugarh, Jan 15: An adult leopard was killed after being hit by a speeding vehicle at 2 No. Ghoronia in the Naharkatia area of Dibrugarh district on Thursday evening.
According to eyewitnesses, the incident occurred around 6 pm when the leopard was attempting to cross the road. “The leopard was crossing the road when a speeding vehicle suddenly hit it. The animal succumbed to its injuries shortly after,” said Monimanik Gogoi, a local resident.
Gogoi said the forest department was immediately informed about the incident. “A police team arrived at the spot and took custody of the leopard’s carcass,” he added.
Environmentalists have expressed concern over the recurring incidents of wildlife deaths due to reckless driving. “The leopard was killed due to overspeeding, which is extremely unfortunate. The driver should be booked under the law for killing a protected animal,” Gogoi said.
Echoing similar concerns, environmentalist Devojit Moran said such incidents are reported almost every year. “Leopards frequently die after being hit by speeding vehicles while crossing roads that pass through or near forested areas. Drivers must strictly maintain minimum speeds in wildlife zones to prevent such tragedies,” he said.
Leopards are protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which provides the highest level of legal protection. The species is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, with populations facing serious threats from habitat loss, fragmentation, and increasing human-wildlife conflict across much of their global range.
