Endangered species: Villagers catch snow leopard alive

The local communities have assured of not harming this precious animal

GILGIT: Local community in a remote hamlet of Hunza Valley were enlightened enough not to harm the endangered snow leopard that had killed a number of their cattle heads and caught the magnificent beast alive, wild life officials said.

According to a statement of the Misgar Wildlife Conservation and Development Organisation, the local communities are aware of the extinction threat faced by the snow leopard, and have assured of not harming this precious animal.



The community has informed Wildlife Department of Gilgit-Baltistan, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and Snow Leopard Foundation (SLF) about the detention of the mountain beast, which now sits inside a cage.

According to wildlife officials from the Misgar Valley, known for its strength and ferocity, the beautiful yet vicious snow leopard is among protected species. Mountain communities have been sensitised to conserve this animal even at the loss of their own livestock, officials said.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 24^th, 2017.