A citizen recently caught sight of a common leopard in the vicinity of Margalla Hills and captured footage of the big cat wandering freely along Trail 5 in Margalla Hills National Park, Islamabad.
The video has since gone viral on social media, prompting a response from the Chairperson of the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB), Rina Saeed Khan.
Taking to Twitter after the incident, Khan explained that during Ramadan, few people visit the trails, leaving the area deserted and allowing wildlife to roam freely.
She went on to note that while leopards are typically nocturnal and solitary creatures that actively avoid human encounters, they are not a threat to visitors in the protected area, and instead serve as an indicator of a healthy ecosystem.
Khan noted that the leopards live in the national park, reminding the public that humans are the ones intruding on their territory and that disturbing them can be harmful.
She urged visitors to Margalla Hills National Park to follow the guidelines set by the IWMB for the safety of the citizens as well as the local wildlife.