Rajouri/Jammu, Dec 9 (PTI) A leopard was found dead near a forest in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district, officials said on Monday.

According to Amit Sharma, Warden of the Wildlife Protection Department for the Rajouri-Poonch region, the carcass of the animal was discovered on Sunday without any visible injuries and all its vital organs appeared to be intact.

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"The locals noticed the leopard lying alongside a road and subsequently informed the wildlife department. A team was dispatched to the area on Sunday," he said.

"We have shifted the animal's carcass to the veterinary hospital in Rajouri for post-mortem," he added.

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Sharma further stated that while the initial investigation suggests illness as a possible cause of death, the exact reason will be determined after the post-mortem.

The Wildlife Protection Department has initiated legal proceedings and and an investigation is underway.

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