Bhubaneswar, Dec. 12 -- In a disturbing development raising concerns over wildlife safety, a leopard was found dead under suspicious circumstances in the Khesara forest area of the Kusumdehi Section in Sundargarh district on Friday morning.

Forest officials suspect that the big cat died after consuming poisoned meat, possibly as part of retaliatory action by locals.

Preliminary investigations revealed that a few days earlier, a bull had been killed in the forest, reportedly attacked by a leopard.

According to sources, miscreants may have deliberately laced the carcass of the dead bull with poison. The leopard, feeding on the contaminated meat, is believed to have succumbed to the toxins.

The Forest Department promptly dispatched offic...