Officials from the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Wildlife Department have begun searching for the bodies of leopard cubs allegedly shot on June 16, the day before Eid ul Adha.
The search was prompted by photos of the cubs’ lifeless bodies, taken in Muzaffarabad’s Phagwan Dupatta area, which surfaced on social media and prompted immediate action from the authorities.
Read more: Wildlife Department Rescues Leopard Cub in Azad Kashmir
Local residents alerted wildlife officials of the incident via phone call. In response, teams from AJK’s Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries Department were dispatched to the reported location, according to officials. Investigations into the incident are ongoing.
Naeem Iftikhar Dar, Director of the Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries Department, stated that it would be premature to comment on the alleged killing of the wild cats until their bodies are located. However, locals reported hearing gunshots in the area.
A formal request to register a case regarding the alleged killing of the leopard cubs has been submitted to the relevant police station.
Dar mentioned that teams have been searching for the cubs for several days without finding any trace of their remains. He added that they are also seeking eyewitnesses to aid in the investigation.
The viral images that sparked outrage among animal rights activists have since been removed from social media, and the identity of the person who uploaded the images remains unknown.
