The valleys and mountains of Ghizer like other districts in Gilgit-Baltistan, are also home to many types of wildlife such as markhor, ibex, snow leopard, pheasant, chakor, doves and ducks.

This wildlife adds to the natural beauty of the region, attracts tourists and maintain natural ecological balance. Though there are wildlife conservations in some valleys in GB, most of them are sans any wildlife protection mechanism. Thus the animal population particularly that of markhor, ibex, dove and duck is decreasing owing to indiscriminate hunting.

Ibex and markhor come down from the mountains in winter in search of food at different pastures and meadows located up streams of various villages because of heavy snowfall. Some people hunt them secretly and illegally.

Ducks, seagulls and swans migrate from polar regions to GB in spring, especially in March and April. Moreover, doves appear in the area in May. This bird is beautiful, simple and is regarded as a symbol of peace. This year hundreds of doves were killed in different villages of Ghizer alone.

It is astonishing to see how insensitive people have become towards environment and wildlife. The government doesn’t take action against them. This overhunting of creatures should be stopped otherwise our future generations would not be able to see these beautiful animals.

Karim Muhammad Khan

Pakora village, Gilgit-Baltistan

Published in Dawn, June 27th, 2018