Rare leopard captured in Japan

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TSUSHIMA CITY, Japan, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- An endangered Tsushima leopard cat is recovering at a wildlife center in Japan after being captured in Tsushima City, officials said.

The cat, which was weak when captured, was being treated at the Tsushima Wildlife Conservation Center, the Mainichi Daily News reported Wednesday.

It had been several decades since a living Tsushima leopard had been taken into protection, center officials said.

The male leopard was captured on the grounds of the Kyudenko Co. in Tsushima City and was believed to have been born this past spring, the center said.

The cat was eating and center officials said they would wait until it recovered to decide whether to return it to the wild. Tsushima's leopard cat population has declined to between 80 and 110, the center said.