LAHORE, Jan 5: A wild leopard cat succumbed to injuries it got while fighting dogs. The leopard was caught by Wild Department officials with injuries on a tip-off by local farmers near Chak No 32 of Hanjarwal, adjacent to Chhanga Manga forest.

The leopard was given first aid but it could not survive, says an announcement released by the deputy director of the Wildlife Publicity and Research on Friday.

Northern parts of the country and the Potohar region is natural habitat of the leopards and they prefer to live near banks of streams and nullahs. Rats, forest hare, amphibians and reptiles are their favourite food.

POACHERS HELD: Punjab Wildlife Department officials arrested 17 poachers in prohibited areas during the Eid holidays across the province.

Punjab Wildlife and Parks Director Muhammad Imtiaz Tajver said on Friday that teams were constituted to launch a vigorous campaign against poachers in order to preserve national wildlife throughout the province.

He said heavy penalty was imposed on poachers, besides registration of criminal cases against them irrespective of their political or social status.

Tajver said only limited hunting was allowed under “special permits” during the hunting season to maintain the eco-balance. He said night hunting and netting of all animals and birds was already banned in the entire province.—APP