MUZAFFARABAD: A leopard cub that had wandered out of the forest into a populated area on the outskirts of Muzaffarabad on Friday was captured by wildlife guards and shifted to a captive centre for treatment, an official said.

Shaista Ali, the monitoring officer at the Wildlife and Fisheries Department, told Dawn that they received a phone call from Hassan Gallian village at about 11am, reporting that a young leopard had descended into the populated area and could pose a threat to humans and livestock.

“The appearance of the leopard in the village caused significant fear and panic among the local residents,” she said.

Upon receiving the information, a rescue team led by Wildlife Supervisor Sheikh Naseer Ahmed promptly headed to the site. The team skilfully rescued the eight-month-old leopard and transported it to the Veterinary Hospital in Muzaffarabad for initial treatment.

Ms Ali said the cub appeared to be unwell.

“Either it was suffering from internal problem or had consumed some poisonous substance because froth was spotted in its mouth,” she added.

In a video clip provided by Ms Ali, the young leopard is seen in a field, surrounded by four to five wildlife guards attempting to capture it.

Some guards are equipped with helmets and gloves for safety. The leopard’s movements lack the characteristic sharpness and agility of its species, suggesting its apparent illness.

The guards cautiously tried to cordon off the animal.

One of them threw a net over the leopard, but it managed to escape.

Despite its weakened state, the leopard made attempts to evade capture. At a critical moment, one of the guards leapt onto the animal, successfully pinning it down.

The other guards quickly followed, securing the leopard with nets. As the operation unfolded, dozens of villagers gathered around the scene to observe the dramatic rescue effort.

Ms. Ali said they had conducted some tests on the animal and, upon receipt of the results, would decide whether to provide treatment locally or shift it to the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board.

“In the meantime, we have temporarily moved it to our captive breeding centre in Pattika. If it recovers locally, it will be released back into its natural habitat,” she said.

Published in Dawn, January 4th, 2025