MANSEHRA: A common leopard attacked and seriously injured a woman in Ghanool area of Kaghan valley in the early hours of Monday.
The local residents said the leopard attacked Gul Jan Bibi when she was reaping fodder for sheep and other cattle in her fields.
They said the woman cried aloud for help forcing the beast to flee.
The residents said the woman suffered injuries in the attack and therefore, she was taken to the King Abdullah Teaching Hospital, where doctors referred her to the Ayub Medical Complex Abbottabad.
They said the woman’s condition was stated to be critical.
The common leopards have been found in high mountains of Kaghan valley in large numbers. They mostly come down in search of food.
A local official of the wildlife department said mountains in Kaghan valley were covered with snow and that wild animals came down in search of food.
He said the government wanted to start trophy hunting for common leopard and issue permits to foreigners to hunt them down in but the plan had yet to be executed.
The official said attacks by common leopards had killed scores of animals, sheep and goats in parts of Kaghan valley.
Published in Dawn, May 31st, 2016