Rare Persian leopard spotted in Balochistan near Nani Mandir

LASBELA: A Rare Persian leopard was seen roaming near Balochistan’s Nani Mandir, after so many years.

A visitor to the temple inside the Hingol National Park in Hinglaj, a town on the Makran coast in the southwest province, discovered the rare leopard.

According to Sharifuddin Baloch, Chief Conservator of Wildlife in Balochistan, the leopard was photographed on the cliff across from Nani Mandar. This Persian leopard is native to Hingol National Park and is referred to as “phulang” there. The majestic animal, which is elusive, is rarely sighted in this area.

Extremely rare Persian leopard spotted by a Visitor at Nani Mandir, Hingol National Park, Balochistan
There are only less than 1000 in the wild and is categorized as endangered by WWF. pic.twitter.com/F9HkLLX5VK

— schnabel (@docshnabel) April 23, 2024

According to Muhammad Moazzam Khan, technical consultant for the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Persian leopards can be found over most of Balochistan, particularly along the shore.

However, he added, due to hunting and lack of food which includes wild goats, urial goats, and chinkara gazelles the population of this top predator is decreasing and they are now among endangered species.