Injured leopard rescued in AJK, transported to Islamabad

Female leopard was spotted along the river Neelum after being reportedly hit by a speeding vehicle

MUZAFFARABAD:

An injured common leopard that was reportedly hit by a speeding vehicle along the Neelum Valley road in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) was rescued and transported to Islamabad for treatment on Saturday.

The female leopard was found injured at the bank of Neelum River in Nowsada area, some 20 kilometers from Muzaffarabad, the capital of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

Locals told The Express Tribune that they found the roaring leopard between the stones and water, saying she was not able to move.

In a terrible accident, a beautiful leopard was hit by a vehicle in the mountainous roads of Neelum Valley. The injured leopard lay by a stream as bystanders took photographs with it.

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"As we tried to get close to the leopard, we were shocked to see her legs paralysed, making it impossible for her to move," a local said.

He added that the people present at the scene also tried to feed the animal with chicken, but all in vain.

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Another eyewitness Arshid Mir described the leopard as being terrified, with moist visible in her eyes as she saw people attempting to get close to her.

The locals gathered at the scene also made selfies and videos of the rare sight and save it with them forever.

Staffers of the AJK wildlife department soon arrived at the scene and began to transport the leopard to Muzaffarabad.

According to Director Wildlife Department AJK Nayeem Darthe, the wild animal had suffered multiple injuries but it was the spinal cord injury that made her paralysed. He added that the age of the common leopard was three to four years.

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“We transported her to Islamabad for further treatment," he said. "Leopards enter settled areas in search of food in the winter season and it seems this was the case with this one too."

While responding to a question about her injuries, Dar said, it was either due to being hit by a vehicle on the Neelum Valley road or due to a fall from the top of the mountain.

To another question, the official said the leopard was not endangered but actually threatened in AJK and Pakistan.

"The selling of hides of these leopards is banned across the globe, aimed at saving them. The hides of the common leopards were previously used for making coats, shoes and handbags."

He added that price of a hide of a common leopard was Rs2 million in the international market.