SUKKUR, Dec 3: Villagers living in the kutcha area in Shah Belo near Sukkur killed a leopard, commonly referred to as a cheetah or a taindwa, when it ventured in their village and gave them a scare.

Villagers said that they came out of their houses when they heard noise outside and the leopard tried to pounce on them. They then shot him.

Wildlife department officials reached the village and took the body in their custody.

According to wildlife officer Ghulam Muhammad Gadani, the leopard was about six years old. He said that the species is usually found in Balochistan and in the areas along Sindh’s border with India.

He said that a post-mortem examination of the killed leopard would be conducted to find out where it came from.

A case was registered at the Sukkur wildlife office against unknown killers of the leopard, he said, adding that higher authorities were also informed of the offence.