Snow leopard cub rescued from illegal trade in Gilgit

GILGIT: A snow leopard cub, illegally sold on the black market after being captured from its habitat in Nazbar Nullah, Yasin Valley, Ghizer district, has been recovered by the Gilgit-Baltistan Forests, Parks, Wildlife, and Environment Department.

Nazbar Nullah, located 16 kilometers west of Yasin proper, is one of the largest high-altitude pastures in the region and serves as a prime habitat for various forms of wildlife, including the endangered snow leopard.

Multiple sources from the Wildlife Department, familiar with the case but requesting anonymity, revealed that the cub was captured by two residents of Nazbar approximately a month ago. The cub was allegedly sold to a retired army officer in Yasin, who reportedly gifted it to his son-in-law, a serving army officer residing in Gilgit. The cub was eventually recovered from the serving officer’s house.

Also read: Pakistan to declare snow leopard as global climate adaptation symbol

The sources also disclosed that they had received strict orders from superiors barring them from speaking to the media.

This illegal chain of events came to light after a video surfaced on social media, showing a young man from Yasin Valley playing with the cub inside a car. The video quickly gained attention, prompting swift action by the Gilgit-Baltistan Parks and Wildlife Department. Authorities arrested the two individuals who captured the cub from Nazbar and confiscated the vehicle seen in the video. The cub was subsequently relocated to Naltar Valley.

According to the sources, the person seen in the video is from Shiger Valley, and the officer’s cook, who was involved, is currently on the run.

Khadim Abbas, Conservator of Parks and Wildlife in Gilgit-Baltistan, refuted allegations involving high-ranking uniformed officials. Speaking from Islamabad, where he was attending a conference. Abbas reassured the public that a thorough investigation is underway, and a press conference will soon be held to provide full details.

“The matter is being thoroughly investigated by our teams, and we expect to have a conclusive update in the coming days. A press conference will be held to inform the public about the full details of this case,” Abbas said. He also confirmed that the cub had been relocated to Naltar Valley, where it will be kept under close supervision.

Snow leopards are classified as “endangered” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Gilgit-Baltistan, home to several of these majestic creatures, is a critical zone for conservation efforts. However, illegal wildlife trafficking continues to undermine these efforts, pushing the species closer to extinction.