SWAT: A snow leopard was shot dead after it attacked a villager in Sar Banda area of Swat on Wednesday.
Soon after the incident, World Wildlife Fund officers arrived and started a further probe into the incident. According to WWF, the initial investigation suggested that villagers shot dead the snow leopard after it attacked a residential area and injured a man.
Sources said the wild cat ate many animals nearby and had also injured scores of villagers. It has also emerged that two leopards attacked the village, one was killed and other ran away towards the forests of Upper Dir after the villagers opened fire.
WWF officials said that this rare species plays a key role as both top predator and an indicator of the health of the high altitude habitat. Snow leopards are mostly found in mountainous areas of Pakistan’s northern areas including Gilgit-Baltistan.
Wildlife experts have expressed concern over an alarming decline in the population of snow leopards in Pakistan, citing climate change and lack of eco-friendly tourism as the leading factors behind threats to the species.
Snow leopard’s favoured prey is herbivores, such as blue sheep, Argali sheep and ibex. In many areas, snow leopards also prey on livestock, bringing them into conflict with herders.
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