Pakistan is home to two of the world's big cats, the common leopard (Panthera pardus) and the snow leopard
(Uncia uncia). The high mountains of the Himalaya, Karakoram and Hindukush are home to the rare and elusive snow leopard (local name Barfani Cheetah), a cat so secretive few have been privileged enough to see a glimpse of it in the wild. The resourceful and adaptable common leopard (local name Guldar, Tendwa, Cheetah) while not so secretive and elusive as the snow leopard inhabits the lower mountain ranges of northern Pakistan. The common leopard’s range extends from the Himalayan forest regions to the broken and hilly mountainous country of Baluchistan and Sind Kohistan. The better-forested areas of the Himalaya, particularly the Galliat areas of N.W.F.P are the last stronghold of the leopard in Pakistan. Elsewhere, the common leopard is extremely rare, having been hunted almost to the point of extinction as a trophy by hunters and as a pest by locals. It is generally believed that the sub species found in Pakistan is Panthera pardus fusca. However, it is possible that two sub species are found in Pakistan demarcated by the river Indus. To the east of river Indus, in Azad Kashmir, Kaghan valley, Galliat areas and Murree hills the Indian Leopard (Panthera pardus fusca) is found. The second sub species, the Persian Leopard (Pathera pardus saxicolor) is thought to inhabit the regions west of the Indus in Swat, Dir, Indus Kohistan, and Baluchistan.
While much attention nationally and internationally has been focused on the conservation of snow leopard in Pakistan, none of this has happened with the common leopard. The recent killings of 6 women by man eating leopards in the Galliat areas of N.W.F.P, Pakistan has brought the common leopard in the limelight. During the past 4-5 months there have been increasing reports of leopard-man conflict in the Galliat areas, with casualties on both side. While depredation on domestic livestock by leopards in common, this is the first time leopards have turned man-eaters in Pakistan. There has never been any recorded instance of leopards turning man eaters in Pakistan. Out of fear the authorities have started a shoot to kill policy, without taking into consideration the negative effect of this. So far 2 leopards thought to be man-eaters have been shot, even though laboratory tests have negated the wildlife departments claim of man-eaters. Now the provincial environment department is considering a wildlife directorate proposal to introduce leopard trophy hunting in the Galliat region, according to official sources. The wildlife department insists that since the population of common leopards in the Galliat region has doubled in the last five years, leopard trophy hunting would entail dual benefits for the local communities as it would help them earn foreign exchange as well as lower the threat posed to human life. This is totally ill-founded and unsubstantiated. There is still not a viable population of leopards in Galliat areas and it is still a protected species. Besides there are other viable options to solving this problem instead of killing them in cold bloo
d. Placing the common leopar
d on the schedule of game animals will not only aggravate the problem but will expose the animals to the threat of illegal hunting. The Government of Pakistan, NWFP Wildlife Department, the affected local communities and other stakeholders need to come up with a solution that not only protects these cats but also respects the right of people to survive. We have already lost the Lion, Tiger and the Cheetah from Pakistan. Lets make sure this symbol of the Galliat forests doesn't follow in their footsteps
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