Residents of Bajaur killed a common leopard on Sunday after it repeatedly attacked livestock in the Speen Mundgaon area of Wara Mamond tehsil, prompting the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Wildlife Department to initiate legal action against those involved.

According to local residents, the leopard had been approaching nearby settlements at night and attacking cows, goats and other livestock for several days. Several animals were killed or injured in the attacks, causing fear among residents and financial losses for livestock owners.

The residents said they had been monitoring the leopard’s movement before killing it during an operation. They claimed that the animal’s death helped ease the fear that had spread in the area.

Read: Rare leopard falls to human wrath

The K-P Wildlife Department took notice of the incident and said it was using pictures and videos to identify those involved in killing the protected animal. The department said cases would be registered against the responsible individuals under wildlife laws and legal proceedings would be initiated.

Wildlife officials said the common leopard was a protected species, and its killing was a punishable offence. They urged citizens not to take action themselves if a wild animal entered populated areas or attacked livestock, and instead immediately inform the wildlife department so that the animal can be safely captured and relocated to its natural habitat.

Experts said declining forest cover, destruction of natural habitats, shortage of prey and the expansion of human settlements were forcing wild animals, including common leopards, to move towards populated areas in search of food, resulting in an increase in human-wildlife conflict.

This is not the first such incident. Similar cases involving the killing of common leopards have previously been reported in Darra Adam Khel and Kurram district, where the wildlife department initiated legal proceedings.

Experts said such incidents underline the need for effective conservation measures and better strategies to address human-wildlife conflicts while ensuring the protection of both wildlife and local communities.