Sick leopard rescued in Muzaffarabad, shifted to Islamabad for treatment

MUZAFFARABAD: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir Wildlife Department on Sunday rescued a sick leopard from a suburban locality of Muzaffarabad and moved it to Islamabad for medical treatment, according to officials.

Director Wildlife and Fisheries Abdul Shakoor Kataria said department staff received information early in the morning about a young but weak leopard lying near a stream in Pihalian village, around 35 kilometres northeast of Muzaffarabad.

He said a team was sent to the area without delay and brought the animal to Muzaffarabad after rescuing it.

Veterinary doctors later examined the leopard and did not find any visible external injuries. However, officials suspected the animal could be suffering from an internal medical problem. Mr Kataria said a final diagnosis would only be possible after a detailed medical examination.

According to Mr Kataria, the rescued animal is a female leopard estimated to be about two years old. He said it was subsequently handed over to the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board for treatment and would be released into its natural habitat after recovery.

AJK Minister for Forests and Wildlife Sardar Javed Ayoub also visited and inspected the animal.

Speaking to the media, the minister said the government had wanted to establish a dedicated wildlife treatment centre in the region, but had not been able to do so because of limited resources.

He said the protection of wildlife was essential for ecological balance as well as human survival, and called on the public to support the authorities in protecting wild animals.

“We appeal to citizens to promptly report such cases and avoid harming wildlife, as their survival is closely linked to our own,” he added.

The rescue operation took place after the leopard was found in a weakened condition in the village area. Officials said the animal was shifted out of AJK because a conclusive medical assessment and treatment required further examination.

The development also highlighted the absence of a specialised wildlife treatment facility in the region, an issue referred to by the AJK forests and wildlife minister during his visit.

Officials said the leopard would be returned to the wild once it had fully recovered.