Elderly Snow Leopard Dies Naturally in Chitral

News Desk 

Islamabad: An elderly male snow leopard found dead in the Garam Chashma area of Chitral earlier this week died of natural causes, officials confirmed on Tuesday, calling the incident a rare sign of improving human–wildlife coexistence in the region.

The carcass of the approximately 12-year-old animal was discovered on January 19 in a forested area above Wakht village.

A joint assessment and postmortem by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Wildlife Department and the Snow Leopard Foundation (SLF) concluded the leopard succumbed to severe diarrhoea and dehydration, linked to old age and prolonged food shortages.

Authorities confirmed there were no signs of poaching, poisoning, snaring, or other human-induced harm.

Experts noted that large carnivores rarely survive to old age in the wild due to human conflict, making a natural death a rare ecological indicator.

Minister of State for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Dr. Shezra Mansab Kharal said the case reflected the success of science-based conservation and community engagement.

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“When communities are supported and involved, coexistence with rare species like the snow leopard is possible. A natural death of such an animal reflects improved protection and growing public awareness in Pakistan’s mountain landscapes,” she said.

The Garam Chashma area gained attention recently after videos of snow leopards near human settlements circulated on social media, raising concerns among residents. In response, the KP Wildlife Department and SLF conducted awareness sessions and promoted preventive measures to protect livestock, including vaccinations, predator-proof corrals, and conservation education.

GSLEP Emissary Jamal Leghari highlighted the significance of the event, saying, “When an animal survives long enough to die naturally, it is a strong sign that coexistence is working on the ground.”

Divisional Forest Officer (Wildlife) Chitral Farooq Nabi confirmed field inspections found no evidence of conflict or illegal activity. SLF Director Dr. Muhammad Ali Nawaz added that in areas where human-caused mortality is common, a natural death is “not just a biological event but a coexistence signal,” showing the animal avoided persecution throughout its life.

Authorities pledged to continue strengthening conflict-mitigation efforts, expand livestock protection programmes, and maintain monitoring across Chitral’s snow leopard habitat.