Villagers in Bajaur to face action over leopard killing, wildlife department says

BAJAUR: Wildlife authorities in Bajaur have started legal proceedings against villagers involved in the killing of a leopard in the hilly War Mamund tehsil area, according to an official statement issued on Monday.

The statement by the Bajaur wildlife department’s divisional forest officer said the move came a day after residents of Sapary Mandogai allegedly killed the animal after it was said to have attacked and killed their livestock.

According to the statement, a team headed by the relevant range officer was dispatched after field staff reported the incident. The team was tasked with recovering the dead leopard and determining the circumstances in which it was killed.

The statement said, however, that local police did not allow the wildlife team to proceed to the exact site because of the law and order situation in the area. It added that after talks, police permitted only three members of the field staff to go to the location for recovery of the animal’s body.

The carcass had not been recovered by the time the report was filed, the statement said. It added that the divisional forest officer had also taken up the issue with the local administration and had contacted local elders to seek their cooperation in helping recover the leopard’s body.

Meanwhile, PTI MPA Dr Hamidur Rehman urged the wildlife department not to proceed against the villagers involved in the killing. In a social media post, the lawmaker, whose constituency includes the area, warned local wildlife officials against registering an FIR against residents.