SWD launches probe into leopard’s killing

Medical examination reveals big cat was starving when it was shot dead

KARACHI:

The Sindh wildlife department has launched an investigation into the killing of an Indian leopard in Islamkot's Saroonghwari village on Monday.

Believed to have crossed into Islamkot from India's Rajasthan state, the leopard, called Achho Chitto in local vernacular, had reportedly mauled eight villagers before it was killed.

With the villagers maintaining that they gunned down the big cat in retaliation after it attacked them, the SWD has launched an investigation into the matter to confirm their account.

According to SWD provincial head Javed Ahmed Mahar, "This animal [the leopard] doesn't attack humans for food. It is scared of being around humans and stays at a distance from areas inhabited by humans." Mahar added that leopards usually liked thick forest, adding that there was no jungle in the region where he was shot.

A leopard usually feeds on bears, wild cats, dogs, reptiles and other similar animals.

Under the law, killing an animal for self-defense is not an offence.

Examination

After the killing was reported, the SWD had taken the carcass into custody and transported it to Karachi for medical examination.

The carcass weighed around 65 kilogrammes and an examination revealed that the animal was a fully grown male. Besides, during the sampling process at the SWD head office, wildlife department officials found the leopard's stomach empty and deduced that it was starving at the time of its death.

Following the completion of the examination, samples of the body were sent for DNA testing.

"The result of the DNA test will confirm its origin," said Mahar. However, he did not confirm when the result was expected to release.

He added that the leopard's skin was being prepared for stuffing so as to preserve its natural appearance and it would be put on display at a museum near the SWD's main office, situated near the Karachi Press Club.

Previous sightings

Last month, the SWD was informed that a big cat similar to the one shot dead in Islamkot was sighted near Karoonjhar Hills. The hills are 45 kilometres apart from the spot where the leopard was killed on Monday.

However, Mahar has ruled out the possibility of both the animals being the same.

"We traced that animal [the one sighted at Karoonjhar Hills] and its footprints did not match that of a leopard," he said.

Besides, in the 60s, an incident of a leopard being killed was reported in Kohistan near Karachi.

According to SWD officials, a leopard was sighted in the same area few years ago.

While there is no proper record of the presence of Indian leopards in Sindh, some wildlife officials believe the big cats have been inhabiting areas near the India-Pakistan border and say there have been instances of Indian leopards movement being recorded in many parts of the country.

"Historically, we don't have evidences of its presence [at least] in Sindh," Mahar said, adding that the recent sightings of leopards would help his department in carrying out a study on the presence of leopards.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 25^th, 2021.