Posted on May, 15 2026
On Endangered Species Day, WWF-Pakistan is drawing attention to the growing threats facing some of the country’s most iconic wildlife, including habitat loss, pollution, climate change, and human-induced pressures; which continue to push several species close to extinction.
Working with government institutions, researchers, and local communities, WWF-Pakistan is implementing conservation initiatives for several threatened species, including white-rumped vultures, long-billed vultures, cheer pheasant, great Indian bustard, freshwater turtles, Indian pangolins, Asiatic black bears, snow leopards, and the blind Indus dolphin. These efforts combine habitat protection, scientific monitoring, community engagement and policy advocacy to help secure the future of Pakistan’s unique biodiversity.
Among the most alarming declines is that of the white-rumped vulture, now classified as critically endangered, with fewer than 50 individuals estimated in the wild. To address this, WWF-Pakistan has established a captive breeding facility for white-rumped vultures and supported the development of vulture safe zones to reduce the threat posed by toxic veterinary non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). WWF-Pakistan currently maintains 33 white-rumped vultures under its conservation breeding programme as part of efforts to help restore the species in Pakistan.
Beyond species-specific conservation efforts, WWF-Pakistan is also strengthening the country’s response to illegal wildlife trade, one of the most significant threats facing species such as the Indian pangolin. Over the last year, WWF has trained more than 100 rangers and officers from Punjab, Sindh, and Azad Jammu & Kashmir in wildlife crime prevention, species identification, animal handling, and ranger health and safety. Additionally, 25 officers and rangers from the AJK Wildlife Department received SMART training to strengthen wildlife crime monitoring and protected area management.
The organization has developed a Zero Poaching Plan for Deva Vatala National Park and a National Strategy for the Prevention of Illegal Wildlife Trade in Pakistan. Through online and in-person awareness sessions, more than 1,000 individuals including community members, students, academia, and journalists have been sensitized on the threats and impacts of illegal wildlife trade. WWF-Pakistan has also established Pangolin Protection Zones in Punjab, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa through active community engagement. In recent months, at least seven Indian pangolins have been rescued and released back into their natural habitats.
Speaking about the recent sightings of the snow leopard in the high-altitude valleys of Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan after more than a decade of limited observations, Rab Nawaz Senior Director Programmes WWF-Pakistan said, “While such anecdotal sightings on their own do not confirm a population recovery, they are encouraging and underscore the importance of continued efforts to protect mountain ecosystems and reduce human-wildlife conflict.”
“Endangered Species Day highlights the urgent need for collective conservation action. Healthy ecosystems are essential for clean water, food security, climate resilience, and sustainable livelihoods, making biodiversity conservation a shared responsibility to ensure that threatened species continue to survive and thrive for future generations,” said Muhammad Jamshed Iqbal Chaudhry, Senior Manager Research and Conservation, WWF-Pakistan.