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PESHAWAR, Jul 14 (APP):From the icy heights of the Karakoram to the parched plains of Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) is a land of striking ecological contrasts, teeming with species found nowhere else in Pakistan.
Yet, behind this natural richness lies a growing challenges are the steady shrinking of wildlife habitats due to deforestation, urban expansion, climate change and population explosion.
Despite being home to some of Pakistan’s rarest wildlife, KP’s ecosystems are now in peril. Forest cover is vanishing, wetlands are drying, and rivers are being polluted, leaving many native species with nowhere to go.
Pakistan’s broader biodiversity includes over 786 species of birds, 200 species of mammals, and a myriad of reptiles, amphibians, and fish. KP, in particular, hosts key populations of these, including the endangered snow leopard, brown bear, and markhor — the latter making a comeback through successful conservation models in the north of Pakistan.
“Our land is brimming with unique species that are not found anywhere else,” says Dr Mumtaz Malik, former Chief Conservator of Wildlife. “But shrinking habitats due to population explosion and deforestation are a silent killer. Wildlife is being squeezed out of existence.”
Dr Malik warns that climate-induced threats such as prolonged droughts, flash floods, and glacier melt are accelerating habitat loss. “Resulting the number of endangered species is rising sharply. We’re losing not just animals, but entire ecosystems.”
Pakistan is already facing an alarming trend ie 90 species are categorized as endangered, vulnerable, or critically endangered. Among them are globally significant animals like the Siberian crane, Indus dolphin, musk deer, and houbara bustard many of which find refuge in KP’s fragile ecosystems.
The Indus dolphin, one of the world’s rarest mammals, and the snow leopard, the ghostly predator of northern ranges, are symbolic of the struggle. These species rely on very specific environmental conditions that are rapidly disappearing.
Dr Mumtaz Malik said Wildlife corridors which are essential pathways that allow animals to migrate, feed, and breed are being fragmented by roads, cities, and agricultural sprawl.
“Animals such as jackals, foxes, and mongooses are now being pushed into colder, suboptimal habitats, putting their survival at risk.”
Even worse, these species are coming into closer contact with human settlements, leading to new health threats. “Foxes and mongoose are scavenging on sick poultry, exposing themselves to dangerous pathogens,” says Dr Mumtaz Malik. “We are witnessing a rise in disease transfer due to these unnatural interactions.”
He said the plight of the houbara bustard (Chlamydotis macqueenii) encapsulates the problem. A migratory bird that arrives each winter from Central Asia, the houbara has become a frequent target of illegal hunting and trophy expeditions, despite its endangered status.
“This is a bird that, if disturbed once, may never return to the same migratory route,” Dr Malik explains. “It is exceptionally sensitive even the loss of a single mate can delay breeding by several years.”
Experts now fear that without immediate intervention, the houbara could vanish from Pakistan’s skies by 2040.
Despite these threats, Pakistan has made significant strides in conservation. The Ten Billion Tree Tsunami, spearheaded by the KP government, has turned barren lands into green sanctuaries. In KP’s Ghari Chandan area, more than 3.2 million trees have revitalized ecosystems, bringing back cranes, monkeys, and pheasants once thought lost.
Shahid Noor, Conservator of KP’s Southern Forest Circle, said that millions of trees have been planted under farm forestry and forest enclosures that increased frequency of migratory birds and strengthened wildlife habitats in KP. “Our focus is on indigenous species trees that support native wildlife,” he said.
Scientific surveys and genetic studies are also underway. In Kaghan and Siran valleys, DNA research is being used to monitor black bear populations. Similar projects are tracking pheasants and grey langurs, providing crucial data to guide conservation policy.
A shift in policy is also evident. New compensation mechanisms now support communities affected by human-wildlife conflict, encouraging cooperation over confrontation.
Under the Prime Minister’s Protected Area Initiative, KP has designated 15 new national parks, expanding protected areas to 14.23% of Pakistan’s land with a goal of reaching 20%.
Wildlife parks are being developed in biodiversity hotspots such as Kumrat, Anso Lake, and Palas Kohistan. Breeding centers and modern zoos have been set up in Swat and Peshawar to ensure public awareness and species revival.
Salahuddin Khan, DFO Wildlife, confirms that hunting regulations have also been revised to ensure sustainability. “Community-managed reserves and licensed game hunting are now monitored to prevent overexploitation,” he says.
Yet, the battle is far from over. Experts warn that enforcement remains weak in remote areas. Poaching continues, and infrastructure projects often move ahead without environmental assessments.
“Conservation is not about fences and forests alone. It is about people and communities must be part of the process,” says Dr Malik. “Without local involvement, no initiative for wildlife conservation can last.”
As Pakistan faces the realities of climate change and biodiversity loss, its success in preserving KP’s wildlife will be a test of national resolve. The stakes are not just ecological they are existential.
“This is not just a biological issue rather it’s a national emergency,” warns Dr Malik. “Each species lost is a thread pulled from the web of life. And soon, the whole system may unravel.”