Leopard trapped after goat killings

ABBOTTABAD:

The Wildlife Abbottabad Department successfully captured a leopard in Lower Galiyat that had been preying on the farmers' goats and successfully prevented what could have become a serious threat to local communities.

The leopard was trapped in village Dhaki Khetrar Bara Hoter of Galiyat, district Abbottabad following timely complaints and reports from local residents. The predator had recently killed several goats in Bara Hoter and nearby areas, creating panic among the villagers.

The swift action by the Wildlife Department ensured the safety of both livestock and residents. Hazara Division Conservator Wildlife, Iftikhar uz Zaman, confirmed the development and praised the cooperation of local communities. "This was indeed a serious issue. The residents of Bara Hoter repeatedly complained about livestock depredation.

We monitored the leopard's movements, but it would return again and again. We made efforts to trap it, and fortunately, it was successfully captured yesterday. The animal has now been translocated to our facility, where it will be examined to determine why it was targeting livestock and approaching populated areas," he said.