A leopard struggling for its life after being caught in a snare tragically died in Maskeliya. The animal was discovered by local residents trapped in a snare that was originally intended for foxes.
Residents reported that it took over an hour for wildlife officials to arrive at the scene. Despite their efforts to minimize the leopard’s distress by keeping people at a distance, they had to wait for a veterinarian to rescue and treat the injured animal. Unfortunately, the leopard succumbed to its injuries before help could arrive.
“We informed the relevant departments at around 6:30 am, but we didn’t get a response until around 11 am. By then, the animal had died,” said a local resident who witnessed the incident.
A spokesperson from the Nallathanniya Wildlife Office stated that a team was dispatched immediately upon receiving the report. However, due to a shortage of veterinarians, they had to wait for a vet from Randenigala. The spokesperson also noted that the leopard’s panic when locals approached made the rescue more challenging.
This incident follows a similar case from several years ago, where a rare black leopard was found caught in a trap a few kilometers away.
Environmentalists argue that having a dedicated veterinarian in the area could significantly improve response times and protect these rare animals from such tragic outcomes.
