A three-year old leopard was found dead in Kolipalam near Gudalur, about 70 kms from here today.
On information by the villagers, forest department officials, along with veterinarian Vijayaraghavan rushed to the spot and carried out post-mortem, forest department sources said.
Though the veterinarian declared that the death was natural and there was no foul play, the villagers and some members of NGO, expressed doubt and suspected that the animal was poisoned to death, to protect the pet animals.
The body was burnt later, they said.
