PESHAWAR, July 25: The provincial environment department is considering a wildlife directorate proposal to introduce leopard trophy hunting in the Galliat region, according to official sources.

The proposal, which calls for leopard trophy hunting on the pattern of the markhor trophy hunting, has been put forth in view of the danger posed by the swelling number of leopards in the region.

Wildlife conservationists are opposed to the plan which was laid out after leopards mauled to death six women in Mansehra and Abbottabad districts.

Dr Mumtaz Malik, chief conservator of the wildlife directorate in the province, told Dawn that the proposal was still in the conceptual stage and a final decision would be taken later by the government.

The population of leopards – once designated as an endangered species – has been growing since 1984 when wildlife authorities introduced measures to protect wildlife habitat in the Galliat region of NWFP.

As part of these measures it established Ayubia National Park over some 4,000 acres of forest land. The park area was later increased to 8,000 acres, according to official sources.

According to conservative estimates, the population of the ‘common leopard’ in the Galliat region has doubled in the last five years from 10 to 15 animals to some 30 to 40 animals.

“If introduced, leopard trophy hunting would entail dual benefits for the local communities as it would help them earn foreign exchange as well as lower the threat posed to human life,” said Dr Malik.

However, conservationists belonging to the Hazara region said that the trophy hunting plan was ‘ill-conceived’ and could easily aggravate the threat to leopards.

Wasi-ur Rehman, a conservationist and representative of a local community organization, said that leopards were still an endangered species and trophy hunting would only expose the animal to a greater threat.

The common leopard, known also as Panthra pardus, was listed as a protected species more than 20 years ago and the government of the day outlawed hunters and poachers from shooting or poisoning the animal.

“If the government decides to introduce leopard trophy hunting, then the common leopard would be placed on the schedule of game animals,” said Dr Malik.

According to him, leopard trophy hunting has the potential to turn the fortunes around of people in the Galliat region because the sport would attract the interest of local and international hunters.

“People spend Rs900,000 to Rs1 million to hunt leopards in Africa. Raising $5,000 from a single leopard here should not be a problem,” said Mr Malik, adding that poverty-ridden communities had much to gain from the trophy hunting experience.

TRAPPING ANIMALS: On the request of zoo managements in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad, the NWFP wildlife directorate will set traps for three leopards in the Galliat region.