WWF-P Chitral rescued Himalayan Lynx (lynx isabellinus) from Chitral
by Kashif Ahmad March 04, 2013
The WWF-Pakistan Chitral have finally succeeded in capturing of a Lynx that injured two children and several cattle in Chuenj village of Chitral Pakistan.
CHITRAl : WWF-Pakistan Official sources said that after it injured two children and many cattle in Village Chuenj of Mustuj. According to Mr. Shafiqullah Khan Field Biologist associated with WWF-Pakistan the species was Lynx lynx isabellinus known as “Doorchon” in local language which is found in the forest of Chitral. 45 depredation cases of livestock from various localities of Mustuj have been recorded” said Juma Khan a local of Chenju. Mr. Nyazuddin an Official of Livestock department chitral confirmed that the health of the species is stable. Later on WWF-Pakistan and Local wildlife department officials released the species in Chitral Gol National Park.
Shahzad Kashif, KP Chitral Pakistan, 17200
Photo Credit Hamid Ahmad - WWF - Pakistan
Link: http://dawn.com/2012/04/30/greed-politics-at-zoo-may-cost-female-elephant-its-life-2/
Greed, politics at zoo may cost female elephant its life
From the Newspaper | Ikram Junaidi | 30th April, 2012
ISLAMABAD: The most popular animal of Marghazar Zoo, female elephant named Saheli, that has been suffering from severe pain in one of its legs for nearly a fortnight, on Sunday, fell down on ground and could not stand up despite all out efforts by the zoo attendants and veterinary officers.
On the other hand, samples of the animal’s excretion are being sent to the laboratory to know if the animal has really been poisoned as some insiders feared, Dawn has learnt reliably.
According to sources, two weeks ago, the right rear foot of the female elephant got injured with some sharp object – a nail or rock but management of the zoo did not bother to take it seriously. As a result, within a matter of days the minor injury turned into a severe wound and female elephant started limping.
The male elephant stands close to comfort the sick elephant at the Marghazar Zoo here on Sunday. - Dawn
Link: http://greenanswers.com/news/279175/bear-baiting-pakistan-exercise-malice
Bear Baiting in Pakistan: An Exercise in Malice
By Kelly Hamilton on Thu, 03/22/2012 - 9:39am
The cruel hobby of bear baiting is more medieval torture theatre than actual game, but it has snaked its way through the centuries under the guise of being a real sport. Much like dog fighting and cock fighting, bear baiting events are held at the behest of a crowd of delighted onlookers hoping to cash in on the bloodshed of animal versus animal.
03/20/12
Indian pangolins
Link: http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=98630&Cat=11
Indian pangolins
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Scaly ant-eater Indian pangolin, which is locally called salla, is the only mammal found in Pakistan with hard keratinised protective scales on its body. It is a near-threatened species according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources’ red list of threatened species (2005). Despite its being a protected animal, people are still capturing and killing it illegally for its scales. The price of an Indian pangolin varies between Rs8000 to Rs12000 (approximately US$100). A research team of Arid Agriculture University of Rawalpindi working on Indian pangolin in the Potohar plateau discovered brutal killing and illegal trade of this animal in the region. The team got the first evidence of Indian pangolin’s killing in December 2011, when it found skeletons of six animals of this species along with a dead pangolin whose scales had been removed in Chakri near Motorway-2. All animals seemed to have been killed for their scales. In March 2012, carcasses of 18 Indian pangolins were found in jute sacs, their scales removed, in a railway tunnel near Chakwal.
Link: http://www.dawn.com/2012/03/04/rise-in-leopard-killings-alarms-wildlife-experts.html
Rise in leopard killings alarms wildlife experts
Our Staff Correspondent | National | From the Newspaper
MUZAFFARABAD, March 3: Conservation biologists get alarmed at an unusual surge in leopard killings in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) as official figures reveal that as many as 11 big cats were hunted in the past six months.
“This alarming increase has perturbed wildlife experts, both at home and abroad and on my request representatives of more than a dozen governmental and non-governmental organisations are devising a strategy to cope with the situation,” said AJK Wildlife Department Director Sardar Javaid Ayub, while talking to Dawn on Saturday.AJK Wildlife Act provides legal protection to the leopard, placing it in third schedule among animals which cannot be killed, captured or kept in possession but at the same time it provides for shooting the carnivore in self-defence or protection of livestock outside the demarcated forests.
Link: http://www.wwfpak.org/newsroom/170212_snowleopards.php
Snow Leopards descend down to Doyan valley, a place near Gilgit
Gilgit, 17 February 2012: On 13th February 2012 local community members of the Doyan valley in Astore District of Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan spotted a group of four snow leopards near their village. Astonishingly the shy cats remained at the same location till 14th February, and the community members Mr. Naseer ur Rehman and others informed Gilgit-Baltistan Wildlife Department about the sighting and continued show up of the animals. Upon the advice of Mr. Willayat Noor, Conservator Parks and Wildlife Gilgit-Baltistan and Mr. Aftab Mehmood, Divisional Forest Officer Wildlife Gilgit-Baltistan, the community members ventured to photograph the illusive felids. On 14th February, Mr. Naseer of Doyan Community and Mr. Farooq, Game Inspector of the Gilgit-Baltistan Wildlife Department were able to take some pictures and videos of the cats. According to Mr. Naseer, they were about 100 meters away from the cats on the other side of Astore river, while looking at them and taking photographs.
Video clips available here: http://www.divshare.com/download/16810972-af2
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