By Ranjith Rajapakse   

A hill country leopard released from a trap last morning by wildlife officers had died before any treatment could be provided.   

Wildlife officers from the Nallathanniya Wildlife Conservation Office said the leopard had been caught in a trap in a tea estate in Maskeliya and that they rushed to the scene and released it after tranquilizing it.  

They said on their information Wildlife Veterinary surgeon  Dr, Akalanka Pinideniya of Randenigala wildlife veterinary hospital who had been to Anuradhapura on an official assignment was on his way to the scene when the leopard succumbed to its injuries.  

Officials said the leopard which had attempted to escape from the trap had received serious injuries.  

Meanwhile environmentalists of the area said their continual representations to the relevant authorities to establish a veterinary hospital in Nuwara Eliya or Gampola  with a veterinary surgeon had fallen on deaf ears.  

 Maskeliya police and wildlife officers from Nallathanniya are conducting investigations to arrest the individual who laid the trap.