Rescued leopard returned to wild after rehabilitation in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD/MUZAFFARABAD: A common leopard rescued in injured condition and later treated in Islamabad has been released back into the wild in Azad Kashmir, according to the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB).

The animal, named Terry, was freed late on Saturday night after being transported from Islamabad to Muzaffarabad and then taken on a four-hour journey to a suitable site, where it was released after 9pm.

In a statement, the IWMB said, “in a remarkable example of inter-agency collaboration and commitment to wildlife conservation, the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Wildlife Department and the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board have successfully rehabilitated and released a common leopard, affectionately named “Terry”, back into his natural habitat”.

According to the board, the effort began on April 5, when the AJK Wildlife Department rescued the leopard from the outskirts of the AJK capital. Dr Shaista Ali, monitoring officer of the AJK Wildlife Department, said the animal was found in an injured state, shifted first to Muzaffarabad and then moved the same day to Islamabad for treatment under the IWMB.

Dr Ali said the leopard had been attacked before the rescue. “The leopard had been beaten with sticks, which caused internal injuries,” she said, adding that expert veterinarians in Islamabad treated the animal.

Dr Sana, an IWMB member who was part of the medical team, said the leopard had sustained injuries to its neck and head. “It remained in a coma for about a week,” she said, adding that international experts were also consulted during the treatment process.

In a post on its official Facebook page, the IWMB said the leopard underwent 27 days of rehabilitation before being released on May 2. The board said that after weeks of treatment and monitoring, the animal had fully recovered and was considered fit to return to its natural habitat, describing the release as a “proud moment for wildlife conservation in Pakistan.”

An IWMB representative said that on May 2, after full recovery and an assessment of its ability to survive in the wild, Terry was released, calling it an important step in continuing conservation work. The same representative described the leopard as being believed to be seven to eight months old, while the IWMB had also referred to the animal as 18 months old.

Joint conservation effort

The IWMB said the operation was carried out through coordination between the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board and the AJK Wildlife Department.

According to the board, videos recorded at the time of release showed the leopard hesitating briefly before jumping from the back of a double-cabin pickup, surveying the area and then disappearing into the forest. Other footage shared by the IWMB showed the animal receiving treatment and food before its release.

An IWMB official said, “This achievement was made possible under the strategic leadership and guidance of Aisha Humera Chaudhary, who is IWMB chairperson and secretary, Ministry of Climate Change; and Chaudhary Mohammad Fareed, secretary, Forests, Wildlife and Fisheries Department, AJK,” and added that their commitment to wildlife protection and ecosystem preservation had played a key role in the operation.

IWMB Chairperson Aisha Humera Chaudhary said the central aim of wildlife conservation was to ensure wild animals could live in their natural environments. She said efforts were being reinforced to reduce captivity and end harmful practices so that wildlife could survive freely in the wild.

AJK Forests, Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Mohammad Fareed praised the teams involved for their work and described the operation as a model example of coordinated conservation action.

The teams involved in the operation included the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board and the AJK Wildlife Department.