Endangered leopard cat rescued in Sreemangal

An endangered leopard cat was rescued from a roadside near the Sreemangal Tea Resort and Museum in Sreemangal upazila of Moulvibazar late last night. The animal is currently undergoing treatment.

According to Swapan Deb Sajal, director of the Bangladesh Wildlife Service Foundation, two locals -- Jahan Ahmed and Mohammad Milon -- were passing through the area around 11:50pm when they spotted the injured animal lying on the road, apparently after being hit by a passing vehicle.

Jahan Ahmed immediately informed the Bangladesh Wildlife Service Foundation. Sajal, accompanied by environmental activists Rajdeep Devdeep and Nirab Nag, rushed to the scene and identified the animal as a leopard cat, a species classified as endangered in Bangladesh.

Sajal said the cat was quickly rescued and taken to a safe location where first aid was administered.

“The animal is currently in a stable but critical condition and requires advanced veterinary care for a full recovery,” he said.

Sajal said a qualified wildlife veterinarian could not be reached immediately since it is a weekend. The Forest Department has since been informed, he added.

Tajul Islam, a forest guard of the department said the wild animal is in better condition than earlier.

Abdul Karim Kim, general secretary of the Sylhet chapter of Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon, said wildlife road casualties in Sylhet division are alarmingly common, though only a small number of such incidents are reported.

“Wild animals need safe corridors,” he said. “They come out of the forest at night in search of food, and without proper road management and awareness, such tragedies will continue.”