Residents of Speen Mundgaon in Wara Mamund tehsil of Bajaur killed a protected common leopard, claiming the animal had repeatedly attacked and killed their livestock over the past several weeks.
According to local residents, the leopard’s repeated incursions into the area prompted villagers to track and confront the animal, resulting in its death.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Wildlife Department has taken formal notice of the incident and launched an investigation under the KP Wildlife and Biodiversity Act against those involved in the killing.
Wildlife officials said they are using videos and photographs circulating on social media to identify the suspects and initiate legal action.
Teams have also been dispatched to recover the leopard’s carcass, although the operation has been complicated by the area’s rugged mountainous terrain and security concerns near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
The department reiterated its zero-tolerance policy against illegal hunting, urging the public to immediately inform wildlife authorities whenever wild animals enter populated areas so trained personnel can safely relocate them.
Officials stressed that the common leopard is a protected species under provincial law, and killing it is a punishable offence.
