ISLAMABAD: A leopard cub was released back into the wild on Thursday following a successful rehabilitation. The Wildlife Management Board (IWMB), working under the Ministry of Climate Change, released the female leopard in an undisclosed location in Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK).

The leopard, which was found injured with a wounded tail, was rehabilitated at IWMB’s rescue centre for five weeks. Once cleared by veterinarians, it was released back into the wild forests with the assistance of the AJK Wildlife Department, said chairperson IWMB Rina Saeed Khan.

Wildlife ambassador and leopard expert Jamal Leghari accompanied the IWMB team to Muzaffarabad and onwards to photograph the leopard and monitor her release into the wild.

This successful release highlights IWMB’s commitment to wildlife conservation and rehabilitation, said Rina Saeed Khan. “We are grateful for the collaboration with AJK Wildlife Department and look forward to continuing our efforts to protect and preserve Pakistan’s precious wildlife,” she said.

A short video of the release showed the leopard cub, nearly a year old running off into the forest before disappearing into the bushes.

Published in Dawn, August 23rd, 2024