CHITRAL(National Times)- Iconic snow leopard often called the “Ghost of the Mountains,” is making a vibrant comeback in the rugged terrains of Chitral, marking a significant milestone for regional wildlife conservation.
After a worrying thirteen-year silence where its sightings were virtually non-existent, the elusive cat has begun appearing frequently across various valleys since last year thereby sparking joy among local communities who viewed the animal’s return as a positive sign for the health of Chitral’s mountain ecology.
Saleemuddin, chairman of the Chitral National Park Association, confirmed that the predator had seemingly disappeared from the region mysteriously over a decade ago thereby filling the residents with the fear of its total extinction from the Hindukush belt.
He said that over the last one year, however, the snow leopard has been frequently sighted in Lot Koh Valley, inside the Chitral Gol National Park, in Bashqar Gol of Upper Chitral and within the Kalash Valley and Gahiret-Golen conservancy.
Experts attributed this “recolonisation” to a thriving food chain coupled with a number of other factors which tempted the wild cat to make a ‘come back’ to the area.
Jamiullah Sherazi, regional programme manager of the Snow Leopard Foundation (SLF) Chitral, credits the return to robust conservation efforts backed by civil society saying that the populations of Kashmir Markhor and Ibex, the snow leopard’s primary prey, have surged due to better protection.
“As the Markhor and Ibex descend to lower altitudes in search of winter fodder, the leopard follows them toward the villages, leading to more frequent sightings,” he explained.
He said that the density of the population was further evidenced during the recent trophy hunting season.
“In Gobor and Booni Gol, hunters reported several instances where snow leopards actually intercepted and attacked the specific Ibex selected for trophy hunting. For conservationists, these encounters are a clear indicator that the snow leopard population in Chitral is not only present but actively thriving,” he said.
He insisted that for the people of Chitral, the sight of the thick-furred cat is more than just a wildlife update, it is a symbol of a wilderness that remains wild, balanced and preserved for future generations.
However, the comeback of this elusive snow leopard is good news for conservationists and wildlife lovers, but it also brings challenges and hardships for herders and livestock owners who share habitats with snow leopards.
Ajaz Ahmed, a conservationist attached with a government department, said that the livestock depredation and attacks on domestic animals remain serious concerns for local communities which necessitates that a holistic compensation and insurance mechanism should be established for snow leopard range communities to promote the peaceful coexistence of humans and snow leopards in harmony.
He said that soon after the re-emergence of the predator in Chitral the incidents of predation in different villages have increased exponentially during which dozens of cattle heads had been decimated which may spark human-carnivores conflict.
