IWMB seeks action after wildlife killings in Islamabad protected area

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) has raised concerns over the killing of wildlife through snares in protected areas of the capital and said it suspects the involvement of some local residents as well as Chinese nationals living nearby.

The matter came to light after a barking deer was found dead after being trapped in a snare in the forest area of E-7, which falls within the Islamabad Nature Conservation, Wildlife and Protected Areas. Following the incident, the board had a case registered at Kohsar Police Station.

According to the first information report, the complaint pertains to the illegal hunting and killing of wildlife in the E-7 forest area in violation of the Islamabad Nature Conservation and Wildlife Management Act 2024. The complainant, who said he was serving as a wildlife guard with the IWMB, stated that he visited the site after receiving a complaint and found traps that had been set illegally.

The FIR said the barking deer had died after being caught in one of the snares. This was not an isolated case, noting that several wild boars and monkeys had also died earlier after being caught in similar traps, and that complaints regarding those incidents had already been submitted to the same police station.

"It is suspected that some local people and Chinese nationals residing in the area are involved in the illegal act," the complainant stated in the FIR.

The acts amounted to a clear breach of the Islamabad Nature Conservation and Wildlife Management Act 2024.

Police assistance sought

The IWMB said its teams were present at the location and had asked police to extend full support and cooperation to wildlife staff so that effective action could be taken against those responsible.

The board also requested strict legal proceedings against those found involved in the illegal hunting and killing of protected wildlife in the area.

The case underscores concerns over repeated incidents involving traps in Islamabad’s protected forest zones, where wildlife officials say animals have been dying after being caught in snares. The latest complaint specifically relates to the E-7 forest area, where the dead barking deer was discovered during an inspection carried out by the wildlife guard in response to a complaint.

Officials have not publicly detailed any arrests in connection with the case in the report, but the FIR shows that the IWMB has formally sought police help to pursue the matter under the relevant wildlife protection law.