22 July 2005
WWF – Pakistan strives to promote peaceful existence between man and nature

LAHORE – Terror and fear prevails in places where 6 women were killed, reportedly, by leopards in different parts of District Abbottabad and also a part of District Mansehra.A boy, aged 8, is also reported to have been picked by leopard just 4 days ago. The boy or his body couldn't be found so far.

Meetings held with the affected families and local elites in Kala Pani (a village located at 12 km from Abbottabad on Abbottabad-Thandiani Road ) and other such places revealed that people feel unsafe because of the presence of the man-eaters in their area. They do not agree to the claims of the Wildlife Department that the leopard that killed several people was killed by them. Even under the current tense situation, some people don't really want the department killing the innocent leopards “They have killed a leopard that we know for years” a local remarked. “The actual man-eaters have come from outside, we need to get rid of them” he demanded aggressively.

Irrespective of the individual responses, the long term survival of leopards seems at risk in the affected zone of the Gallies and Thandiani. This is not only because of certain realities, related to the incidence of killing people by leopards, but also because of the delayed response of government agencies to the sufferings of the people. The people also criticised the level of compensation offered to them. “We protected leopards to respect the law, but when we suffered because of it, we are being offered a meagre sum of Rs. 50000 only whereas Rs.200000 were give to people who died recently in the railway accident” complained a villager.

WWF - Pakistan would like to see the people loving their heritage, and see our species surviving in viable numbers. We, however, strongly believe that this could be a possibility only if the people's right to survive is also respected. How could

WWF - Pakistan help is yet to be determined through more observations, assessments, meetings and dialogues with major stake holders. We expect to reach certain viable options and solutions in due course of time but mean while, if there were new developments, these would be shared with all the supporters of WWF - Pakistan

For further information:
Amjad Aslam, WWF – Pakistan,
Ferozepur Road, Lahore.
UAN: 111-WWF-PAK(993-725)
Tel: +92 42 5862360, 5869429,
Fax: 042 5862358,
e-mail: aaslam@wwf.org.pk