Leopard captured from fishing village released into Wilpattu National Park

Veterinarians from the Anuradhapura and Nikaweratiya Veterinarian Units of the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) were able to tranqulize and capture a leopard that had wandered into a fishing village in Wanathawilluwa today (2). The captured leopard was later released into the Wilpattu National Park. 

DWC vets said the captured leopard is about 15 years of age. They further added that the animal is visually impaired in one eye and that it had entered the fishing village late last night. The leopard had first been seen by a fisherman when he had gone to tie up one of the fishing boats. The fisherman had warned the other fishermen in the village and they in turn had notified the Wanathawilluwa DWC office. The DWC office had then notified the Veterinarian Units. 

The first attempt to tranquilize the leopard had been unsuccessful but the vets had managed to subdue and capture the leopard after much effort. He had then been placed in a secure cage and transported safely to Wilpattu National Park, where it was released unharmed. 

Text and Pix by Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe