ISLAMABAD: The Chairperson of the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB), Rina Saeed Khan, announced on Sunday that the board is actively educating residents of 32 villages within the Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP) to promote coexistence with leopards and prevent habitat intrusion.
With an increasing population of endangered Common Asian Leopards and other wildlife species, the IWMB has intensified its conservation, education, and preservation efforts to safeguard this unique ecosystem that coexists with human settlements.
Rina highlighted that the board conducts training programs for local communities to raise awareness about preventing leopard killings and ensuring safety measures to avoid encounters with these animals.
“While there have been cases of leopards attacking goats, it is important to investigate such incidents and develop a compensation mechanism”, she added.
However, considering the prevailing economic conditions, this can be challenging,” she explained.
Besides, she also acknowledged that urbanization and population growth in the federal capital have expanded human settlements into wild areas.
The Margalla Hills National Park, designated as a protected area in 1980, was originally a small trip between the capital and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province.
She emphasized the need for coexistence with nature, urging visitors and trekkers to avoid venturing into the national park during early morning and evening hours.
Highlighting the uniqueness of each leopard, she explained that their forehead patterns aid in identification.
Moreover, the board has identified eight individual leopards captured in the cameras, noting that male and female leopards live in separate territories and only unite for mating.
It was also assured that there is no poaching or hunting within the MHNP, except for vulnerable areas like Shah Allah Ditta and the Quaid-i-Azam University.
In addition, efforts are underway to demarcate the park’s boundaries in collaboration with the Capital Development Authority (CDA), Revenue Department, IWMB, and the Survey of Pakistan to control encroachments and protect the protected area.
Addressing the issue of hotels polluting the MHNP, she mentioned that the Islamabad High Court (IHC) has declared establishments like Monal and others as illegal hotels within the national park.
She stressed the need to prioritize preservation and protection over the development of large-scale hotels, as the aim is to conserve the thriving wildlife in the region.
Source: DAWN
The efforts to make it possible for the wild life and human beings to live and thrive together are noble and must be appreciated. My only worry is that based on track record I don’t trust the rulers to leave this national park.
Corruptest politicians will don’t allow this
Every possible effort shoud be done to save wild life .. and also to prevent its killing.