BCIB NEW blog spot
Brunei: 'Bornean Leopard' Victim of hit and run in Tutong.
Yusrin Junaidi
Police personnel made a surprise find last night during a routine patrol along the Tutong Highway when they stumbled upon what is believed to be a 'Bornean leopard' species, victim of a hit and run.
According to the JSKLL of Royal Brunei Police Force, who is in charge of the Tasek Biru Police Post, said that they found the leopard around 8.45pm last night near Bukit Beruang.
"We thought it was just a cat or a dog lying dead at the side of the road, but when we slowed down we noticed that the tail was quite long and the size quite big for a cat."
From Bukit Beruang they took the dead animal to the Tasik Biru Police Post located nearby.
With black spots all over its body and a very long tail, the animal measured more than a metre long from head to tail and roughly weighed around 12 kg. There was still no sign of rigor mortis and the body was still soft when the Bulletin arrived at the police post last night.
"We don't know what type of leopard it is, but this is the first time I have seen this kind of species," the police personnel added. The female leopard is believed to have been hit by a car though no visible injuries could be seen.
This was also the first time that such a species was found by the police while conducting patrol. They normally come across dead dogs, lizards, snakes and pangolin but never a big cat this size.
Kg Bukit Beruang is surrounded by thick jungle and members of the public say that there are still some signs bears roam the area but this is the first time a leopard was spotted.
The road along the Tutong Highway is still lined with thick vegetation and it's not surprising that some animals wander off and directly come into the path of an oncoming vehicle.
Borneo Bulletin: 29th April 2008