Two more leopards caught in traps, one dead

Two endangered Sri Lankan leopards have been found caught in traps at the same location at Helboda Estate in Kotamale, on Tuesday (23).

Wildlife officers said that one of the leopards was found dead while the other was rescued from the snare, however had already sustained multiple injuries.

They said that the leopard which had died after getting caught in the trap is around 6 feet in length.

Meanwhile the injured leopard had been tranquilized and transported to Nuwara Eliya for further treatment by the wildlife officers. 

The officers stated that they believe that the two well-grown leopards were in good health before being caught in the traps set up by poachers intending to snare wild animals.

Two endangered leopards -- including a rare black one – had been killed by traps in Sri Lanka in less than a week earlier this month, sparking calls for authorities to crack down harder on the cruel traps.

A third was found alive in a snare and released back to the wild after being tranquilized.

Although setting snares in national parks and reserves in against the law, they are not illegal elsewhere and farmers often use them to protect crops or catch wild boar.

There are believed to be less than 1,000 leopards in the wild in Sr Lanka, and harming the big cat is punishable by up to five years’ jail.