A leopardess aged about one-and-a-half was found dead near Valparai, within the jurisdiction of the Manambolly forest range of the Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR), on Wednesday (May 27, 2026).

According to the Forest Department, field staff spotted the carcass at Meenparai forest beat in the range during a routine patrol.

Based on instructions from the Field Director of ATR, two veterinarians performed a post-mortem examination on the carcass on Thursday (May 28) in the presence of Forest Department staff and members from the WWF-India and the Nature Conservation Foundation.

The veterinarians opined that the carnivore could have died of deteriorating health, caused by injuries sustained while attempting to hunt its prey. Samples from the carcass were collected to be sent for laboratory analysis. The carcass was cremated at the spot as per protocols of the National Tiger Conservation Authority after the autopsy.