The NWFP Wildlife Department and World-wide Fund for Nature (WWF) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for conducting survey, using satellite transmitters, in Chitral district to gather latest information about snow leopard.
"The objective of the project is to improve planning for conservation of snow leopard, which is endangered specie world-wide," said Chief Conservator Wildlife NWFP, Dr Mumtaz Malik while talking to newsmen here on June 14.
The survey, he said, would be conducted under Protected Area Management Projected (PAMP) funded by Global Environment Facility (GEF).
GEF, he continued, has launched PAMP in Hangool National Park in Baluchistan, Machiara National Park in Azad Kashmir and Chitral Gol National Park in Chitral district of NWFP.
Under the project, Dr Mumtaz said, officials of Wildlife Department, WWF and international scientists would visit Chitral district to collect information about snow leopard.
During survey, some leopards would be trapped and fixed with satellite transmitter for observing their movement. The scientists will also collect dropping of leopards for their genetical analysation.
Similarly, automatic cameras would also be installed to take snaps of leopards for ascertaining their number.
Presently, he said, according to rough estimates population of snow leopard in NWFP is around 50 to 70. These leopards are found in Chitral, Dir Khohistan, Swat district and high altitude areas of Azad Kashmir.
The project, he said, would take around two years in completion and will benefit the Wildlife department and WWF in improving their conservation strategy.
The findings of the project will also assist in improving management plan of national parks besides capacity building of communities involved in conservation of wild species.
Chief Conservator Wildlife informed that the snow leopard is facing extinction due to poaching because of high price of its skin in international market, killing by sheppards to avoid hunting of livestock and due to loss of habitat.
The department, he said, has constituted communities to provide protection to the animal and establish protected areas.
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