A leopard, which had been struggling for its life after being caught in a snare, tragically died in Maskeliya. The leopard was discovered by local residents in a snare intended for foxes.

Residents reported that it took over an hour for wildlife officials to arrive at the scene.

Despite their efforts to minimize the animal’s distress by keeping people away, they had to wait for a veterinarian to arrive to rescue and treat the leopard. Unfortunately, the leopard succumbed to its injuries before help could arrive.

“We informed the relevant departments at around 6:30 am, but we didn’t get a response until around 11 am. By then, the animal had died,” said a local resident who witnessed the incident.

A spokesperson from the Nallathanniya Wildlife Office stated that a team was dispatched immediately upon learning of the incident.

However, due to a limited number of veterinarians, they had to wait for a vet from Randenigala. The spokesperson also mentioned that the leopard’s panic when locals approached made the rescue more challenging.

This incident follows a similar case where a rare black leopard was found caught in a trap a few kilometers away, several years ago.

Environmentalists argue that the presence of a dedicated veterinarian in the area could help protect these rare animals from such tragic outcomes.

(newsfirst.lk)
(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by newsfirst.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)