MUZAFFARABAD: An ailing leopard cub, rescued by wildlife guards from a mountain village in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and which was being treated by veterinary doctors, died Thursday evening, less than 15 hours after it was rescued.

The one-year-old cub from a family of common leopards, zoologically referred to as Panthera Pardus, had come to the Ghaziabad Village in Bagh from the nearby forests at about 5pm on Wednesday.

According to AJK Wildlife and Fisheries Department Director Naeem Iftikhar, the cub was unwell when it made an appearance in a small bazaar, scaring many people. It took refuge in an unoccupied shop and the people immediately pulled down the shutter. Dozens of people armed themselves with sticks, unsure how to deal with the cub.

Two officials from the administration and forest department came with the police to ensure no one causes harm to the frightened cub.

It took the team about three hours to cage the animal as no sedatives were used and the cub was brought to the wildlife department office in Chehla Bandi at about 6:30am on Thursday and veterinary doctors started its treatment. However, the animal died in the evening.

Published in Dawn, December 22nd, 2017