CHITRAL: Wildlife conservationists have expressed concern over the disappearance of snow leopard from the Chitral Gol National Park during last seven years, which has been one of the well-known habitats of the big cat in the past.

Addressing a function held in connection with World Wildlife Day here on Saturday by Snow Leopard Foundation (SLF) and wildlife department, the speakers validating the theme ‘big cats; predators are under threat’ said snow leopard had not been spotted anywhere in Chitral for last so many years.

On the occasion, SLF head Khurshid Ali Shah said the big cat kept population density of other species at desired level, but with its disappearance from the national park area, the number of wolves and lynx had abnormally increased having a harmful affect on Kashmir markhor.

Mr Shah said by camera-trapping method, the tracing of common leopard instead of snow leopard in lower Chitral and the vicinity of CGNP was also a new phenomenon, indicating the prevalence of threat in the habitat.

The big cat has not been seen in Gol National Park for last seven years

He mentioned the efforts of his organisation, saying the foes of the human-friendly wild cat had now been made its friends as they had now joined the efforts for its preservation.

Chitral divisional forest officer Ijaz Ahmed stressed the need for the local community in the preservation process and said most tourists came to Chitral to see Kashmir markhor, ibex and many other wild species in their natural habitat.

He said 80 per cent of income accrued from sale of permits of trophy hunting of markhor and ibex went to local communities for their collective development.

He said Chitral had been blessed with rich biodiversity and human population had a close nexus with the flora and fauna, and any disturbance in the ecosystem could spell disaster for all as was witnessed during the flash floods some years ago.

Mr Ahmed said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was rich in biodiversity as it housed 98 species of mammals out of 188 in the country, 455 species of birds out of 668 and 43 species of reptiles out of 177.

Assistance district education officer Ahmeduddin, who was the chief guest, said increasing human population, destruction of habitat and poaching threatened the wildlife, and said joint efforts of government and civil society could mitigate the effects.

Earlier, a walk was organised to create awareness about the importance of wildlife participated by students and members of civil society.

Published in Dawn, March 4th, 2018