September 20, 2003	Saturday	Rajab 22, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, Sept 19: ‘Ronak’, the seven-and-a-half months old leopard cub found from the Margallas died in Islamabad Zoo on Wednesday.

‘Ronak’ became the third leopard cub to die within 45 days while over the year the local zoo has lost four leopard cubs.

“Ronak has not died a natural death. She has been murdered. At 2:30pm the cub was healthy and active. And only after 15 minutes it was found dead with no visible marks of violence,” Hamda Shafiq, the lady who kept the ailing leopard cub for almost six months, said. However, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) sources in the Islamabad Zoo contend that the cub had died a natural death.

“This is very intriguing. Three leopard cubs, all healthy and most active, have died within one-and-a-half months. This cannot be the result of an epidemic. There is more to it than meets the eye,” Ms Hamda said.

The leopard cub was found by the CDA staff in the Margallas in a very bad health and was brought to the Islamabad Zoo where efforts were made to treat her. But she was no showing any signs of improvement.

Director Environment, CDA, Malik Aulia Khan, handed the cub over to Ms Hamda Shafiq to take care of her. Ms Hamda kept the baby leopard with her for six months during which she provided her with best care and took her to the best Vets in the town.

“After six months, I handed her back to the people in Islamabad Zoo. And on Thursday, September 18, when I visited the Zoo I was told that ‘Ronak’ had died on Wednesday in the afternoon. It was hard to believe because the baby had become so healthy and was very active. An autopsy has been carried out to ascertain the actual cause of death of the cub but the results have not yet come. I have this inkling that the cub has been poisoned,” Ms Hamda said.