Black panther caught in snare at vegetable farm until rescue by forest officials in Sri Lanka

Black panther caught in snare at vegetable farm until rescue by forest officials in Sri Lanka

Forest officials have rescued an eight-year-old male black panther which was injured after being trapped in a snare in Sri Lanka.

The incident took place at Lakshapana Estate in Nallathanniya on May 26.

According to reports, the panther was ensnared on a wire by a group of people in a vegetable farm near the Kovil Kovil in the Walamalai area of the Nallathanniya police division.

The wildlife officials presume that the animal was caught when he came to hunt a dog that had been bred to live in an estate close to the vegetable farm.

The Black Leopard was tranquillised and rescued by the forest department officials.

Following its rescue, the injured animal was transported to the Randenigala Veterinary Hospital with the assistance of officials from the Nallathanniya Department of Wildlife Conservation.

According to a veterinarian, the panther had sustained an injury just above its right leg but is not in a critical condition.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Police have arrested a man for setting up the snare in which the rare Black Leopard was trapped.

He will be produced in court in the following days in connection to the offence he has committed.

The black panther is one of the 8 sub-species of leopard found around the world, the Sri Lankan Leopard is scientifically known as Panthera Pardus Kotiya is classified as endangered, with a 2015 estimate placing the population at between 700 and 950 individuals.

The animal will be treated at the hospital and measures will be taken to release it back into the wild after ascertaining its complete recovery.