Carcass burnt in Hadala range may be of lion cub

10-07-2011
Carcass burnt in Hadala range may be of lion cub
Times of India
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-07-09/ahmedabad/29754885_1_forest-officials-lion-cub-carcass

The forest department has ordered an inquiry into the burning of a carcass of an unidentified wild animal at Hadala range. Forest officials suspect that the carcass could be that of alion cub. "We have sent samples taken from the carcass to Forensic Science Laboratory to ascertain whether it is indeed a lion cub," said forest officials.

The incident came to light following rumors that the carcass that was burnt by a forest staff was that of a lion cub. A forest officer said that on finding the carcass, the local staff called up the range officials who asked them to dispose it off. "The forester was inexperienced. He could not ascertain whether the remains were of a lion cub's. He relayed this vague information to his superior and then burnt the carcass at their behest," said forest officials.

Once this incident came to light, the forest department ordered an inquiry into the incident. Some forest officials also said that the carcass could be that of a jungle cat. A couple of days before there were rumors that the lion cub was burnt by the staff after they found it dead. The skin was missing and looking at the situation it appeared as if the death could have taken place long back and would have gone unnoticed, said a forest officer.