Two leopards found dead in Galiyat

ABBOTTABAD: The local Wildlife Department found bodies of two leopards from village Seer in Galiyat here on Monday.

They also recovered three-month-old two cubs of leopards from Mikhyal Forest Range in Haripur district. A field officer of the Wildlife Department confirmed the recovery of bodies of two leopards. He said that the post-mortem of the two leopards had been completed and a final report would be made available in two days to ascertain the exact cause of their death.

They were found dead in the jurisdiction of Changlagali Police Station on Seer Gharbi Road and as per locals, the animals died due to logging during deforestation of local firms. This was the second such incident reported in the area in the last couple of days as earlier one leopard was found dead here.

According to Wildlife officials in Abbottabad, these leopards were extremely rare species and were dying. They said that due to cutting of trees in Galiyat the big cats were now scared and had moved to the populated areas in search of food.

The officials said a case had been registered against unknown persons. They said that cubs which were alive were being kept at Abbottabad caring centre where they were being treated and provided food. Both cubs were in good health. Officials were in search of their mother and according to field officer, the ages of both cubs were 2 to 3 months.