Shepherd Injured in Caracal Attack in Cholistan Desert, Wildlife Authorities Confirm
A shepherd was injured after being attacked by a wild cat in the Cholistan Desert near Bahawalpur, officials confirmed.
Following an investigation, the Punjab Wildlife Department identified the animal as a Caracal, dismissing earlier claims that the attack was carried out by a leopard.
The incident occurred on the day of Eid, leaving the victim, Abdul Majeed, with serious injuries to his head and arms. Local residents had initially suspected a larger predator, but wildlife officials clarified that the pattern of wounds was consistent with a caracal attack.
According to Sheikh Zahid Iqbal, Additional Chief Wildlife Ranger for Central Punjab, caracals typically target the head and upper body, which supported the conclusion. He added that such desert-dwelling wild cats are commonly found in the Cholistan region.
Authorities described the caracal as a fast and skilled predator that usually hunts birds and small animals, but may occasionally attack humans if it strays close to populated areas.
Wildlife teams monitored the area for several days and attempted to capture the animal, but it managed to escape and remains at large in the desert.
Meanwhile, Badr Munir, a member of the Captive Wildlife Management Committee, traveled from Lahore to Bahawalpur and met the injured shepherd to gather details of the incident.
The victim alleged that he did not receive immediate assistance from the wildlife department and had to arrange his own medical treatment. Officials, however, assured the family that measures would be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.
