The KP Wildlife Department takes notice and says it is using images and videos to identify those involved in the killing.
Residents of Bajaur killed a common leopard on Sunday after it repeatedly attacked livestock in Speen Mundgaon area of Wara Mamond tehsil, prompting the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Wildlife Department to initiate legal action against those involved.
According to local residents, the leopard had been approaching nearby settlements at night and attacking cows, goats and other animals for several days. Several animals were killed or injured in the attacks, causing fear among residents and economic losses for livestock owners.
Residents said they had been monitoring the movement of the leopard before killing it during an operation. They claimed that the animal’s death helped ease the fear that had spread in the area.
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The KP Wildlife Department took notice of the incident and said it was using photographs and videos to identify those involved in the killing of the protected animal. The department said cases would be registered against the responsible individuals under wildlife laws and legal proceedings would be initiated.
Wildlife officials said the common leopard was a protected species and its killing was a punishable offence. They urged citizens not to take action themselves if a wild animal enters populated areas or attacks livestock, and instead immediately inform the wildlife department so that the animal can be captured and safely relocated to its natural habitat.
Experts said declining forest cover, destruction of natural habitats, scarcity of prey and expanding human settlements were forcing wild animals, including common leopards, to move into populated areas in search of food, resulting in increased human-wildlife conflicts.
This is not the first incident of its kind. Similar cases related to the killing of common leopards have been reported earlier in Darra Adam Khel and Kurram district, where the wildlife department has initiated legal proceedings.
Experts said such incidents underline the need for effective conservation measures and better strategies to address human-wildlife conflicts, while ensuring the protection of both wildlife and local communities.
