ISLAMABAD, Apr 14 (APP):More than 50 livestock were killed, injured or went missing after a snow leopard attacked a livestock enclosure in a remote village of Upper Chitral, leaving two families facing severe financial hardship.
The incident occurred in Gobor Bakh village in the Lotkoh valley, near Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan, where a snow leopard entered a corral through a narrow opening and attacked animals during the night, according to the Snow Leopard Foundation (SLF).
SLF officials said the attack resulted in the death of 18 young goats (kids), 26 sheep and 10 goats, while six sheep were injured and four animals remained missing. The total financial loss has been estimated at around Rs850,000.
A joint team from the SLF and the Wildlife Department Chitral visited the site after a six-hour journey to assess the damage.
Experts noted that the pattern of killing — involving multiple animals in a single incident and throat bites — was consistent with what is known as “surplus killing”, a behaviour observed in predators like snow leopards when livestock panic inside enclosed spaces.
The report stated that once inside the enclosure, the predator triggered panic among the animals, many of which fled outside, where the attacks continued.
Officials also pointed out that a similar incident occurred in the same valley in 2019, when 22 livestock were killed. A snow leopard and her cub had also been spotted in the area weeks before the latest attack.
Gobor Bakh valley, home to around 147 households across four settlements, is a high-altitude region where farming opportunities are limited and livestock serves as the primary source of income, food security and savings.
“In such remote areas, a single incident like this can push entire families into crisis,” the SLF said, adding that the affected households had lost their only source of livelihood overnight.
Community members expressed concern that without immediate support, there could be retaliatory killing of the endangered animal.
The SLF has called on the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and relevant authorities to provide immediate compensation to the affected families.
It also urged the implementation of long-term measures, including predator-proof livestock enclosures, livestock insurance schemes, veterinary support and alternative income opportunities such as eco-tourism and small enterprises.
The organisation said it would arrange immediate vaccination for the remaining livestock and work with authorities to strengthen local conservation committees.
Pakistan is estimated to host between 155 and 220 snow leopards, one of the world’s most endangered big cat species. Conservationists stress that protecting the species is closely tied to supporting the livelihoods of mountain communities that share its habitat.
“This is not a conflict between people and wildlife — it is a consequence of neglect,” said Jamiullah, Regional Programme Manager Chitral at the SLF.
“When families are not protected from economic loss, conservation efforts are also at risk,” he added.
The SLF urged provincial and federal authorities, along with international partners, to act swiftly to prevent further such incidents and ensure both community welfare and wildlife conservation
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