Endangered species: Big cat population under threat in MDs

The return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to the tribal district of Khyber, after the decline in terrorism in the past decade, coupled with indiscriminate cutting of forests has become a threat for rare breeds of big cats.

Prior to 2010, when the population of Khyber District had moved to other parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) to escape the onslaught of terrorism, the population of big cats like leopards and cheetahs grew in the tribal district. However, ever since the head count of the merged district has started increasing, the population of the big cats is under threat.

For instance, 3 rare species of the big cats have been killed in the district this year, alone. Similarly, last year, 2 rare leopards were shot dead on the border of the Khyber District after they attacked cattle belonging to residents of the area.

Commenting on the rise in killings of leopards and cheetahs, Nazeef, a resident of the tribal district, told The Express Tribune, that ever since people had started moving back to Khyber, big cats had come under threat. “When the people moved back, deforestation increased. So leopards and cheetahs, who hunted in the forests, were forced to look for a food source in populated areas. Thus, they now prey on livestock animals because we took away their source of sustenance,” he explained.

“However, the local population does not understand the predicament of the big cats and instead view them as an enemy. Therefore, they kill them.”

Divisional Forest Officer Wildlife, Khyber, Abdul Halim Marwat, concurring with Nazeef, said that ever since access to previously remote areas of the district had increased, the population of big cats had come under threat. “However, there is little the wildlife department can do currently to reduce the threat,” regretted Marwat. When asked as to why the department could not help the leopards and cheetahs, he stated: “It has only been a year since the wildlife department was given access to the merged tribal districts. Therefore, we presently lack staff, offices, and facilities due to which field work cannot be done consistently.”

While it remains to be seen when the provincial wildlife department will be better equipped to help reduce the threats that humans pose to wild animals, Hasnia, a female officer serving in the K-P Wildlife Department, told The Express Tribune, that the department was working on a strategy to increase awareness among locals.

“We are organising special seminars and sessions to educate the locals that these big cats are not a threat to them. We realise that if the locals do not stop killing rare breed leopards and cheetahs, they will go extinct. Therefore, we are doing our best to increase awareness,” she informed while talking to The Express Tribune.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 11^th, 2023.