ABBOTTABAD: Wild boars injured three people in a village here, residents said on Thursday.

Also, a leopard was seized by the wildlife department in Galiyat area here.

The residents told Dawn that a pack of wild boars attached people in Nagri Bala village during the last two days wounding Nazir, Umar and Naseem Bibi.

They said the Rescue 1122 personnel shifted the injured to the Ayub Medical Complex, where the woman’s condition was stated to be critical.

Meanwhile, officials of the wildlife department said a leopard was captured on the outskirts of Dakhin Tatrela village on Thursday morning.

Leopard captured in Galiyat

They said the capture came after the feline was shot with a sedation dart and that, too, after a six hours long effort.

The officials said the leopard was shifted to the wildlife department’s PMA Road office. When contacted, DFO (wildlife) Sardar Nawaz said Tanwwal, Haripur and Islamabad were the habitats of wild animals.

He said the weather and ecosystem of Galiyat region were not suitable for wild boars, which showed up due to the construction of the Murree and Hazara expressways.

The official said both highways were fenced causing those wild animals to move from one place to another. He said wild boars damaged crops.

The DFO urged the people not to attack wild animals with sticks, axes and firearms to prevent their elimination.

He said instead of enraging animals, people should provide a safe passage to them to leave populated areas.

Published in Dawn, February 24th, 2023