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Measures for the preservation of an important component of the biodiversity demanded

By Zahiruddin

CHITRAL: The enumeration and data sampling campaign of lynx in the forests and pastures of lower part of Chitral by WWF has even negated the presence of the animal contrary to the fact that the local people have time and again reported its spotting and even attacking the pet animals. The local people said that in the recent past, lynx has considerable population in the forests covering the villages of Broze, Drosh, Sheshi Koh, Damil, Arsoon and Arandu. The density of its population suffered dilution with the deforestation and ruthless hunting of wildlife but it has yet to face extinction as the people going to the high altitudes of the forests spot it. They said that in the winter season, when the forests receive snow, the wild cat descends to the nearby pastures of the villages to seek shelter and food and many times, it has even attacked the human settlements. They recalled that two years ago, a lynx entered Drosh village and created panic among its residents killing two cows in the nighttime. Sadbar Khan, a local shepherd of Sheshi Koh valley claimed that the high pastures of the southern part of Chitral has sizeable population of lynx called Dowsoan locally. He said that while herding his goats in the pastures in the summer season, he comes across the wild cat many times which pose threat to his cattle heads. Recalling his observations, another person of the valley said that the cunning wild animal attacks a solitary goat and sucks its blood. He added that the animal is dare enough to carry onslaught even a group of three persons. The wild cat is taken as a symbol of horror in Chitral and there is hardly any folk tale without carrying the mention of the animal as a source of danger. the population of wild cat is feared to be heading towards extinction with the passage of time as it cannot withstand the harsh weather in the higher altitudes because the ever extending human settlement, deforestation and overgrazing of pastures has forced it to abandon its abode in the lower altitudes. The residents of Chitral feared that the absence of lynx is clearly an indication of the imbalance of ecosystem and demanded measures for the preservation of an important component of the biodiversity.