Lahore Zoo seeks mate for Indian leopard

Authorities at the zoo in this eastern Pakistani city are trying to find a mate for a young Indian leopard that was captured after it strayed across the border last month.
The male leopard, captured in dramatic circumstances on January 23, has been kept in a special cage at Lahore Zoo.
Zoo Director Naeem Bhatti said a team of experts is trying to find a female leopard for pairing with the Indian big cat. "The department will find the female leopard through an animal exchange programme soon," he said.
The leopard, weighing 80 kg and six to seven feet in length, is being kept in a relatively dark cage to enable it to "acclimatise to the captive breeding atmosphere", he said.

"The caged animal appears shy of people and a bit afraid too," Bhatti said.
The leopard injured three persons before it was tranquillised by wildlife department officials.

Wildlife officials said the leopard entered Pakistani territory near Pasrur in Narowal sector, 100 km from Lahore.
Yesterday, wildlife authorities captured an Indian deer when it reached a border village in Narowal after falling into a stream, official Zahid Khan said.
Villagers spotted the deer floating in Nullah Aik and informed authorities.
"Some officials reached the spot and captured the deer. We also provided first aid to it as it had a wound on its leg," he said.

Khan said the Indian deer, a rare breed, was shifted to Lahore Zoo.