ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) launched an investigation on Monday to find the perpetrators after a bullet-riddled carcass of an endangered common Asiatic Leopard endemic to Margalla Hills National Park was discovered in the federal capital's Shahdara district.
The Wildlife Board became aware of the situation after villagers' videos of the leopard's carcass went viral on social media.
A visitor describing the video said he was on a picnic at the Shahdara leisure area when he saw the wildcat's rotting carcass with its paws severed.
He reported that the body was deteriorating since insects could be seen on the wildcat's decaying carcass, and that it seemed to be many days old.
He reported that the body was deteriorating since insects could be spotted on the wildcat's decaying carcass, which seemed to be several days old.
The traveller urged that the Board take note of the situation and examine it since it was either a wild animal or someone's pet.
Subsequently, the Board verified in a statement that a dead leopard was discovered in the Shahdara Valley of the Margalla Hills National Park. "An inquiry is being performed on the leopard's death. Muhammad Junaid, the local who shot the video of the dead leopard, is being questioned," the statement continued.
The IWMB also released an X-ray of the leopard, which revealed many bullet entry wounds in the wildcat's body.
"The leopard appeared to be disturbed and responding. There was a chance the feline may injure itself, and we lacked the knowledge to manage and care for the wild animal. It was better to return it to its natural home," stated Vaqar Zakaria, interim head of theIWMB. Mr Zakaria told Dawn that the concealment was vital to protect the animals from poachers.
There are recordings showing the leopard afraid and disturbed in its confinement at the rescue centre, which was formerly the Islamabad Zoo.
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