TURA: A social media post of two dead clouded leopard cubs has drawn condemnation with online users criticising the blogger for putting up the post and demanding punishment to those behind the killing of the animals.
A Facebook blogger, S Tigite Sangma had put up the post displaying the carcass of the endangered clouded leopard cubs which were skinned during preparation for consumption in a village in Garo Hills.
The picture and details, including a video of the carcass, were quickly forwarded to authorities, including wildlife activists, demanding action, prompting Tigite Sangma to remove the post within hours of its online screening.
The clouded leopard (Neofelis Nebulosa) is the state animal of Meghalaya and highly endangered owing to loss of habitat and illegal hunting.
Wildlife experts inform that the adult male and female clouded leopard venture out of their forested hideouts to mate between December and March.
According to the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972, the clouded leopard is considered highly vulnerable with their population going down below 10,000.
A group of students and social organisation members from Garo Hills have alerted the forest department and Garo Hills police to investigate and bring to book those behind the killing of the cubs.
