Leopard encounters can be saved amid public awareness: IWMB.

ISLAMABAD -- Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) official Thursday claimed that leopard and wildlife encounters could be saved amid public awareness to avoid shooting the endangered species.

Assistant Director IWMB Sakhawat Ali told reporter that snowfall in the northern hilly areas of the country especially the potential habitats of snow leopards and other wild cats make the prey more conspicuous for the predators that reduces the possibility of migration from their habitats.

However, a leopard encounter could be handled safely if the person remains calm and quiet without creating panic. 'Most of the violent human wildlife encounters occur due to the people who are unfamiliar with wildlife as they start shouting and assaulting at the wild animal, which not only scares rather provokes them to retaliate in response,' he added.

Sakhawat said there was need for making people realize that they should better call the wildlife department officials to deal with the situation like the one in Swat's Sar Banda area where locals shot dead a snow leopard attacking a residential area.

This might have not happened if the local people tackled the situation sensibly, however, it was fact that humans...

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