Leopard hunted down in Bara

Locals justify their actions, claiming it was self-defense to protect children from attacks by leopards

BARA:

Local tribesmen fatally shot a common leopard on Wednesday following reports of the predator attacking a child in the Khyber tribal district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

According to local residents, the incident occurred when an adult common leopard entered Khan Kaleem village in the Shalober area of Bara Tehsil, resulting in an attack on a child named Bilal.

A local elder shared with The Express Tribune, “The child sustained injuries in the leopard attack, prompting the residents to take matters into their own hands and hunt down the animal.” This particular leopard had been previously spotted within the village, causing widespread panic among locals.

Read Villagers kill rare white leopard

It is noteworthy that last year, two rare common leopards were killed by residents in the distant Tirah valley. The locals justified their actions, claiming it was self-defense to protect children from potential attacks by the leopards.

Activists on social media are now calling on the provincial government to take decisive action against those involved in the recent incident. They argue that such acts further endanger wildlife species, many of which are already on the brink of extinction.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 25^th, 2024.