Protected Javan leopard secured after entering residential area in West Java, injuring two residents
Indonesian authorities safely secured a protected Javan leopard after it entered a residential area in Bandung district, West Java. The animal was captured without being harmed and transferred to conservation officials for health checks, with further assessments to determine its future in the wild.
- A protected Javan leopard entered a residential area in Bandung district, West Java, prompting a joint response by police and conservation authorities.
- The animal was safely captured and transferred to conservation officials without being killed, although reports on minor resident injuries remain under verification.
- Authorities will conduct health and stress assessments before deciding on rehabilitation and possible release back into the wild.
A protected Javan leopard was safely secured by Indonesian authorities after it entered a residential area in Bandung district, West Java, on Thursday, following reports from residents who spotted the animal near their homes.
The incident occurred in Maruyung village, Pacet sub-district, after residents alerted authorities to the presence of the leopard roaming close to housing areas and farmland.
The leopard is identified as Panthera pardus melas, a critically important subspecies endemic to Java and listed as protected under Indonesian conservation law..
Pacet police chief AKP Asep Mulia said officers immediately coordinated with multiple agencies after receiving reports from the community.
According to Asep, the response involved personnel from the municipal police, the local fire department, and the Natural Resources Conservation Agency, known as the West Java BBKSDA.
“We worked together with stakeholders and headed directly to the scene after receiving information from residents,” Asep told reporters at the Pacet police station on Thursday, 5 February 2026.
He said the operation was carried out in a calm and controlled manner, allowing officers to secure the animal without causing harm to residents or the leopard.
After being captured, the leopard was temporarily taken to the Pacet police station for security and observation before being formally handed over to conservation authorities.
Asep praised local residents for remaining restrained despite initial panic, noting that the situation could have escalated if the animal had been harmed.
“I appreciate the people of Maruyung who secured the situation and did not injure or kill this protected animal,” he said.
He added that police had not received any official reports of residents being attacked by the leopard at the time of his statement.
“Until now, there have been no reports of injured residents. However, we will continue to gather information on the ground,” Asep said.
However, accounts from local officials suggested there may have been minor injuries during the incident.
Maruyung village head Apen Supendi said residents first noticed the leopard earlier in the morning, describing it as roughly the size of an adult goat.
According to Apen, the leopard’s sudden appearance caused panic among residents, leading to brief physical contact in the area where the animal was spotted.
He said two residents reportedly suffered scratch and bite wounds while carrying out daily activities near the location.
The injured individuals were taken to a nearby community health centre for treatment, and their condition was later reported to be stable.
Police said further data collection regarding possible injuries was ongoing, and no final conclusions had yet been reached.
Conservation authorities later took full custody of the animal following coordination with local officials and residents.
West Java BBKSDA public relations official Eri Mildranaya confirmed that the agency had received reports of a leopard descending from its natural habitat into an area with high human activity.
According to a report by state news agency ANTARA, the leopard was evacuated on Thursday afternoon to the Cikembulan Conservation Institution in Garut for further handling.
Head of BBKSDA West Java Region V Conservation Section Vitriana Yulalita said the animal had been formally handed over after being secured by residents and authorities.
“At present, the leopard will be taken to the Cikembulan Conservation Institution in Garut for a thorough health examination and initial treatment,” Vitriana said.
She explained that the agency’s immediate priority was to assess the leopard’s physical condition, injuries, and stress levels following its encounter with humans.
Vitriana also praised the community’s response, noting that awareness of the leopard’s protected status helped prevent unnecessary harm.
“Thankfully, the community understands that the Javan leopard is a protected animal, so it was handled properly and without unwanted incidents,” she said.
BBKSDA officials will conduct further assessments to determine whether the leopard can be rehabilitated and eventually released back into the wild.
Vitriana said the release location has not yet been decided and will depend on habitat suitability studies and the animal’s overall health condition.
“At present, the leopard will be taken to the Cikembulan Conservation Institution in Garut for a thorough health examination and initial treatment,” she said.
