Carcass burnt in Germalam was that of leopard, says Forest Department

Carcass burnt in Germalam was that of leopard, notes Forest Department Published – August 19, 2026 09: 13 pm IST – ERODE.

Key points

• During the inquiry, the arrested persons reportedly informed the Karnataka office-holders that they had obtained the animal parts from Basuvanna, 51, of Urilikuttai, a border village in Germalam.
• The carcass burnt by a man in Germalam in Erode district last month was that of a leopard, not a tiger, the Forest Department has clarified.
• The inquiry indicated that Basuvanna had burnt a leopard carcass on his land in July and removed its claws and canines.
• The confession statement of the accused additionally indicated that the carcass was that of a leopard, he stated.
• Efforts are on to trace some others in connection with the case.

Notably, the carcass burnt by a man in Germalam in Erode district last month was that of a leopard, not a tiger, the Forest Department has clarified.

Notably, the clarification came after the Karnataka Forest Department arrested three persons – Mahadeva, Ramesh and Mani – at Haradanahalli village in Chamarajanagar district for allegedly attempting to sell animal parts, including teeth, molars and claws suspected to be those of a tiger. Efforts are on to trace some others in connection with the case.

During the inquiry, the arrested persons reportedly informed the Karnataka office-holders that they had obtained the animal parts from Basuvanna, 51, of Urilikuttai, a border village in Germalam. After which an inquiry was initiated, the Karnataka Forest Department alerted its Tamil Nadu counterpart.

Meanwhile, the inquiry indicated that Basuvanna had burnt a leopard carcass on his land in July and removed its claws and canines. He allegedly handed over the parts to his relative Mahadeva. This person was subsequently arrested by the Karnataka Forest Department.

While Karnataka authorities are probing the possibility of wildlife trafficking and suspect that the animal parts seized from the accused could have originated from Germalam, the Tamil Nadu Forest Department has maintained that the carcass identified there was that of a leopard.

K. Rajkumar, Chief Conservator of Forests and Field Director of the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve, informed The Hindu that the canine recovered from Germalam was highly small and appeared to be that of a leopard. The confession statement of the accused additionally indicated that the carcass was that of a leopard, he stated.

"Samples have been sent for forensic and morphometric analysis. The examination will establish the species, " Mr. Rajkumar remarked. Basuvanna was arrested lately and further investigation is under way, he went on.

For now, carcass burnt in Germalam was that of leopard, says Forest Department remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.