Four leopards killed in Nuwara Eliya alone in 68 days

By Shantha Chandrasiri

Four hill country leopards have been killed in various incidents in the Nuwara Eliya District alone within 68 days, officers of the Wildlife Conservation Department said. They said they recovered on January 17 the carcass of a leopard which had died in a wire trap in the Pussellawa area and on Febuary 09 another carcass from Dimbula - Pathana area. The other two carcasses were recovered from Palmerston on February 27 and from Talawakelle on March 06.   

The officials said one of the leopards had been knocked down to death by a vehicle and another killed in a scuffle with an animal. Wildlife officers said 12 leopards had died in 2023 and no deaths of leopards had  been reported for 2024.