August 26, 2025 | 10:56 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A Javan leopard was trapped inside a village office, creating waves of commotion among curious residents of Kutamandarakan Village, Maleber District, Kuningan Regency, West Java. The animal was discovered in a chair storage warehouse and was believed to have been entrapped in the room for two days before authorities came to free it—by sedating it first—on Tuesday afternoon, August 26, 2025.
The Javan leopard was first discovered by a village official named Faisal on Tuesday morning, around 8 a.m. local time. He became suspicious upon hearing odd noises from inside the warehouse. He was surprised when he opened the door and found a large feline with dark brownish-black spotted fur. "It was probably startled, as I was," Faisal described the moment, saying he closed and locked the door again upon reflex.
He suspected that the Javan leopard entered through a hole between the wall and the roof of the warehouse and had been there since the day before. Faisal immediately alerted the village head and other authorities about his discovery.
Curious Residents Flock to the Scene
The news then spread like wildfire, inviting residents—even those outside the village—to come gather at the scene. The Javan leopard (Panthera pardus melas) is an endangered and protected animal.
"This morning I received information that a Javan leopard was trapped in the village office warehouse. I immediately rushed here," said Nurhaeni, one of the residents, who came with some of her neighbors.
The police, who later arrived at the scene, were faced with difficulties trying to control the crowd. "We are trying to secure the village office to allow for a smooth evacuation process," said Kuningan Police Chief, Chief Commissioner M. Ali Akbar.
Achmad Arifin from the West Java Natural Resources Conservation Agency then arrived in Kutamandarakan Village with a veterinarian and other officials. It was this team that carried out the evacuation by sedating the Javan leopard.
What's Next for the Javan Leopard?
Authorities were able to determine that the Javan leopard was a male, around three years old. It appeared weak while being evacuated from the warehouse. "The villagers said it has been here for one or two days; we will provide further treatment," said Achmad.
As for why the Javan leopard ventured out of the forest and into the residential area, according to Achmad, a more in-depth study is required. "Here, the forest area is probably about 2 kilometers in the production forest, if I'm not mistaken, we will recheck it," said Achmad.
Achmad added that the Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) will rehabilitate the Javan leopard if it is not feasible for direct release in the wild. The rehabilitation process, he said, can be done at the Cikembulan Wildlife Park, Lembang Zoo, or the Wildlife Rescue Center.
Meanwhile, Ali Akbar urged residents to remain vigilant following the discovery of the Javan leopard in the village office. "Insya Allah, if the natural environment is well-maintained, a harmonious ecosystem between wildlife and humans will be established," he said.
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