Residents Kill Protected Leopard in KP

Residents in Bajaur killed a common leopard on Sunday after it repeatedly attacked livestock in the Speen Mundgaon area of Wara Mamond tehsil, prompting the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Wildlife Department to move against those involved.

Residents said the leopard had been coming close to settlements at night and attacking cows, goats and other animals for several days. They said several livestock animals were killed or injured, causing fear in the area and financial losses for owners.

Residents claimed they had tracked the leopard’s movement before killing it during an operation. They said the animal’s death eased the panic that had spread in the area.

The K-P Wildlife Department took notice of the incident and said it was using pictures and videos to identify the people involved. The department said it would register cases under wildlife laws and start legal proceedings.

Officials stressed that the common leopard is a protected species and that killing it is a punishable offence. They urged people not to take the law into their own hands if a wild animal enters a populated area or attacks livestock.

Instead, they said residents should immediately inform the wildlife department so the animal can be safely captured and relocated.

Experts say shrinking forest cover, habitat loss, fewer prey animals, and expanding human settlements are pushing wild animals toward populated areas in search of food. They say such pressures are increasing human-wildlife conflict across the region.

This is not the first such case. Similar incidents involving the killing of common leopards have already been reported in Darra Adam Khel and Kurram district, where the wildlife department also initiated legal action.