Rescued Mountain leopard dies while receiving treatment

The mountain leopard which was rescued while trapped in a snare in an Estate in Agarapathana,  died yesterday (March 31) while being treated at the Randenigala Veterinary Hospital, Wildlife Conservation Director (Health) Dr. Tharaka Prasad said.

He said the leopard died due to severe injuries to its abdomen caused by the snare.

"The 8-foot long male leopard was about 10-years old, was caught in a trap in Menikpalama Forest Reserve in Agarapathana and it was found fallen near the Bopaththalawa cattle Farm," Dr. Prasad said.

He said the wildlife officials had rescued the animal after injecting tranquillizers and took it to the Randenigala Veterinary Hospital for treatment.

However, the leopard died while receiving treatment, he said.

After the incident, the Nuwara Eliya Wildlife officials and employees of the Bopaththalawa Cattle Farm made efforts to remove a large number of traps made by the poachers in the area where the dead mountain leopard was found. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)