Colombo, Jan 8 (IANS): The Sri Lanka government was mulling strengthening laws to protect wildlife in the wake of last year's and this month's killing of several rare and protected animal species, an official said.

Commenting on the recent killing of a leopard in the Udawalawe National Park, the Wildlife Ministry official told the Daily Mirror on Tuesday that there have been arrests in the case and a police investigation was also continuing.

The official said several wild animals had been killed in recent years and raised suspicions if there was a poaching racket in the country,

The Wildlife Ministry will also seek the assistance of the police and STF to strengthen security at national parks.

The carcass of a leopard which was found at the Udawalawe National Park on January 1 had its limbs severed and teeth missing.

Leopards are a protected species under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance of Sri Lanka.

Environmentalists say there could be less than 1,000 leopards in the country, and a proper count or census is yet to be carried out.