As people remained indoors for long during the lockdown, many of Islamabad’s famed green spaces have been reclaimed by nature. Yet another leopard was spotted in Margalla Hills National Park. Authorities even warned trekkers about the leopard in Margalla Hills.
Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB)’s cameras capturing images of the female leopard of a rare breed. The endangered predator has been named ‘Shezadi’ (princess).
This beauty, we call her Shezadi, has been spotted by cameras between trails 4 & 6 for several nights in Jan. Not so common leopard is top predator of Margalla Hills National Park & critically endangered species. Plz don’t use trails at night & go in groups @WildlifeBoard pic.twitter.com/kzllqoorTD
— Rina S Khan Satti (@rinasaeed) February 1, 2021
ALSO READ
A Leopard Enters Abbottabad Village, What Happened Next Was Gruesome
Shehzadi has been spotted thrice between Trails 4 and 6 in the last five days. IWMB warned hikers to avoid hitting the trails after dark as well as hiking alone on Trails 4 and 6.
Geo English reports that IWMB has warned people who trek in the Margalla Hills about five leopards that have been sighted. One of the predators was even seen walking on tracks used by humans over the past week.
Wildlife activist and IWMB Chairperson Rina Saeed Khan said;
“The gate to Trail 4 would be closed in the evening — at Maghrib time — and a gate to the Trail 6 would be installed soon.”
Common Leopard flagship species of Margallah Hills National Park. The sign of their presence observed on different sites. Scat sample send to carnivore lab for further analysis of their diet. pic.twitter.com/2hi2BVHprx
— Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) (@WildlifeBoard) January 27, 2021
Five different leopards have been spotted in Margalla Hills National Park since 2019. Leopards are an apex predator in the Margalla Hills
Additionally, the lack of human activity to scare off wildlife around frequently used hiking trails naturally led to animals reclaiming these spaces in the National Park.
An encounter with the big cat can prove to be fatal. But demands of the animal be put down will affect the whole ecosystem of the National Park. Therefore it is better to avoid wild animals at all costs.
ALSO READ
Two Men Arrested For Killing Rare Snow Leopard in Gilgit Baltistan
