Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) has caught five Leopards roaming in the Margalla Hills through hidden cameras since January 31st.
Hence, the board has advised trekkers to return before sunset to avoid any danger. The leopards have been spotted in the dark while one has been spotted thrice walking on the trek used by humans. The department has advised people to trek in groups on Margalla Hills.
A common leopard was spotted in the early morning at 5:37 am on January 31st. While a female leopard named Shehzadi or Princess has been caught thrice between Trail 4 and Trail 6 in the last few weeks.
This beauty, we call her Shezadi, has been spotted by cameras between trails 4 & 6 for several nights in Jan. Not so common leopard is top predator of Margalla Hills National Park & critically endangered species. Plz don’t use trails at night & go in groups @WildlifeBoard pic.twitter.com/kzllqoorTD
— Rina S Khan Satti (@rinasaeed) February 1, 2021
The board claims that five different species of leopards have been spotted in the Margalla Hills since 2019. The chairman of IWMB has said that the gate of Trail 4 would be closed at sunset while a gate will soon be installed at Trail 6.
Read more: Leopard spotted at Margalla Hills Islamabad excites & frightens!
Leopards in the Margalla Hills have been frequently spotted in the last few months. Back in October, Pakistani travelers spotted a leopard at the Margalla hill. The travelers traveling to Daman-e-Koh spotted the leopard and filmed him. The travelers later released the video on social media that instantly went viral.
The video showed a leopard playing at the side of the road, hiding in the bushes, and then come back to the road.
The Islamabad Wildlife Management Board said that the leopard belonged to Margalla Hills National Park. These leopards often come to roads at night hence, they have warned the travelers traveling up the Margalla Hills to Pir Sohawa and Daman-e-Koh and other spots to be careful at night.
Earlier in the year, during coronavirus lockdown, the federal capital’s Margalla Hill saw an increase in the activities of wildlife animals. The coronavirus lockdown had restricted the movement of hikers and trekkers to the hill, giving space to the wild animals to roam freely.
Read more: Leopards spotted in Islamabad as virus clears way
Rangers in the Margalla Hills National Park spotted the appearances of various animals otherwise hiding on normal days. The park was closed down for a month following the lockdown.