CHITRAL: The postmortem report of the snow leopard, which died mysteriously in a village of the Garam Chashma Valley two days ago, determined the cause the death as severe diarrhoea and dehydration.

The report, a copy obtained by Dawn, observed that the body was extremely weak at the time of examination and that no bullet wounds were found on any part of the body.

“No abnormal discharges from the natural orifices in mouth and nostrils were noted. Symptoms of severe diarrhoea were observed on examination of the anus resulting in dehydration and emaciation,” the report reads.

It further observed that no external injuries or superficial abrasions were detected while all internal organs were checked and found normal except enteritis were noted in gastrointestinal tract.

The male leopard aged 15 years, according to Dr Ghulam Mohammad, district director livestock department, Lower Chitral, who carried out the postmortem.

He said the animal had died over seven days ago.

The predator had been spotted in Garam Chashma about two months ago where it kept on changing its abode in four different villages, including Wakht, Begusht, Oveerik and Munoor, in a radius of about five kilometres and had devoured about two dozen goats.

Residents had time and again demanded of the wildlife department to shift the animal from villages to save their livestock which the wildcat attacked frequently, creating panic in the area.

The animal has not been sighted in Chitral for the last 12 years, but reappeared here in November last year.

Published in Dawn, January 21st, 2026