ABBOTTABAD, Nov 27: The wildlife department has succeeded in catching the “killer leopard” alive, which had mowed down two teenagers a few days back in Thandiani and Galyat areas.

Divisional wildlife officer Mohammad Arif Orakzai, talking to media persons here said that after loss of precious lives, special teams were deputed in different areas in Pattan Kalan and Biran Gali where the leopard had killed a 10-year-old Sohail and 13-year-old Tahira.

A special team of wildlife department from Peshawar was sent to Biran Gali area along with a specially made cage to catch the animal. As soon as the leopard tried to eat the meat placed inside the cage, the animal catchers pulled the string and successfully trapped the feline beast.

The animal was injected tranquilisers with a special gun to make the animal unconscious. Afterwards the leopard was brought to Abbottabad. But the leopard turned violent inside the cage while being shifted to Abbottabad and got itself injured. The official said that the age of leopard was 12-13 years and would be handed over to any zoo to be decided by the high-ups of wildlife department.

The frequent movement of leopard had created panic in the area. A jirga was also held to demand amendments in the forest laws to allow the residents to kill the wild cat. It should be noted that there is heavy penalty if any one kills the big animals.

The wildlife officer clarified to local people that the department had not released the big cats in forests of Nathiagali, Thandiani and in the national wildlife park of Ayubia. He added that snow leopard and other kinds of beasts existed in the areas since long.

The wildlife department had also issued warnings in newspapers asking the locals especially tourists to beware of the wild cat as it normally goes searching for food either before or after the sunset. The tourists were also warned not to give food to monkeys on roadsides as they were the main source of food for the leopard.

The wildlife official said currently at least 30 to 35 leopards were reported in the forests of Galyat, Thandiani, Mansehra, Kaghan and Naran, but after ruthless cutting of these forests, the wild animals were moving to city areas.