A rare breed leopard was shot dead by locals in the Sui area of Dera Bugti, Balochistan, which is yet another case of cruelty to animals in the province, where wildlife is endangered.
The incident was reported on Monday, with images showing residents holding guns extracting the lifeless body of an adult leopard from a cave and dragging it out in the open.
Five of the armed guys in the videos were also seen posing for a photo with the deceased feline, who was shot at least three times, as evidenced by the footage.
The Dera Bugti administration stated that a First Information Report (FIR) had been filed against the individuals involved in the wild animal's killing, and an inquiry was underway.
Previously, an instance of leopard kittens purportedly shot dead in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) a day before Eid ul Azha was reported last week.
The issue arose after a social media user tweeted photos of lifeless newborn felines, prompting AJK wildlife authorities to act quickly.
According to the Pakistan Wildlife Department, the common leopard is a protected species, and hunting is forbidden under all provincial laws.
Leopards are confined to northern Pakistan, with uncommon sightings in Balochistan.
Aside from deforestation and pelt business being a major threat, the mammal is endangered due to frequent attacks in their environment caused by villagers' ignorance.
