Hikers bathing in Margalla trails’ spring to face the music
The Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) on Monday decided to take strict action against the tourists and visitors for bathing in freshwater springs that got filled after massive monsoon rains and helped replenish the depleting ecology.
The IWMB forest guards during their routine patrolling spotted several families with their children bathing in the springs of Trail-5 that had attained maximum water level in its dried and abandoned springs after a prolonged dry spell.
An IWMB official said that the tourists and seasonal trekkers were showing irresponsible and disrespectful attitudes in terms of rules and regulations. The tourists are present at the trails to beat the heat by bathing in freshwater springs that were a source of pure water for humans and wildlife alike and the practice of polluting it was equally detrimental for all.
The recent abnormal torrential rains that had lashed out almost all of the country had also showered record rainfall in the national park that overflew its dry freshwater springs, the official added. Margalla Hills National Park homes rich biodiversity and ecology spreading over an area of 17,000 hectares facing serious risks due to wildfires, arson, poaching, hunting, and tree cutting.
The threat of deforestation, poaching, and hunting have been controlled via preservation and protection measures by the IWMB through public and community mobilisation and it also assisted in increasing green cover in the protected area.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 30th, 2022.