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Corresponding author: Muhammad Ali Nawaz nawazma gmail. The snow leopard is one of the highly valued species from high-altitude mountain ecosystems of Central and Southeast Asia, including Pakistan. This keystone species is facing a myriad of conventional and emerging threats, including poaching and trade, that are poorly documented in Pakistan. To understand the dynamics and drivers of the poaching and trading of snow leopards in Pakistan, we investigated the issue in depth through a multifaceted survey in the snow leopard range of the country. We recorded snow leopard poaching incidences from 11 districts during — Trade routes included large cities and neighbouring countries, even the Middle East and Europe. Our results establish the need for developing multi-stakeholder coordination mechanisms at regional, national and international levels and information sharing to curb this menace. Improving the existing laws and surveillance system, while taking the local communities onboard, will further help to this end. The global illegal wildlife trade has grown to be the second largest black market after narcotics and has accelerated the risk of extinction of many threatened species Toledo et al. The net worth of the global illegal wildlife trade is difficult to estimate. It is said to be USD 5—20 billion annually Hansen et al. Factors contributing to the poaching of wild animals vary according to socio-cultural, religious and economic situations. Thus, the motivations behind wildlife poaching and trade are a multifaceted phenomenon and vary across the globe Kahler and Gore ; Ayling Poaching of large carnivores is particularly complex to understand from the relevant perspective as the human-carnivore relationship involves numerous socioecological factors, which are difficult to control when resources are limited and the consequences are far greater Ripple et al. Snow leopard Panthera uncia dwells in the mountain ranges of Pamir, Karakoram, Hindu Kush and the Himalayas over an area of 80, km 2 potential range Sheikh and Molur and is listed as a critically endangered species in Pakistan. With a debatable global status and population estimates of between — cats in the wild, poaching remains one of the main threats to snow leopards, found ubiquitously throughout its range in Central and South Asia McCarthy et al. Since , some — cats have been killed annually across the 12 range countries Nowell et al. Pakistan became a member of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora CITES in , but lack resources, expertise and tools that limit the enforcement of provisions and relevant laws, like many other countries Dexel and Deutschland Impacts of loopholes and weak enforcement of laws regulating wildlife poaching and trade are not only restricted to the country itself, but also have implications for neighbouring countries Yi-Ming et al. This is most valid for Pakistan where the northern parts of the country share borders with other countries of the snow leopard range. Pakistan is one of the countries where species regulated under CITES are traded, whereas harvesting of species listed in Appendix-I is illegal and those in Appendix-II require certain regulations, depicting weak law enforcement and inadequate capacity for monitoring wildlife crimes Aisha and Khan The marketing of wild animals and their products in the cities of Peshawar, Lahore and Karachi has a long history, which remained in practice after the creation of Pakistan. Laws protecting wildlife and endangered species in Pakistan evolved progressively over the last 50 years Aisha and Khan However, during these years, gaps and poor enforcement of the existing laws have encouraged and benefited the wildlife crimes in the country. Studies reveal that some reasons for the continuation of this practice are: a weak enforcement of wildlife protection laws, b constraints and deficiencies in human and financial resources to protect and monitor the vast, difficult access areas, c imperfection and gaps in the existing regulations related to wildlife trade and protection and d differences in laws protecting snow leopard poaching at regional and national level Yi-Ming et al. In the national context, one such example of weakness in the laws can be seen in the case of snow leopard poaching where the minimum penalty is 30, Pakistani Rupees PKR approx. USD and a maximum punishment is six months imprisonment KP Wildlife Department , while the pelt and other body parts thus obtained can generate thousands of US Dollars Theile Thus, the possible punishment is underweighted against the potential financial gains. Moreover, the growing use of modern technology, such as the advent of internet and particularly social media, has greatly increased the chances and ways to trade wildlife species illicitly Lavorgna ; Aisha and Khan Poaching and illegal trade are some of the main risks for the species of wildlife of the country, such as snow leopards, common leopards and black or brown bears. Other factors contributing to snow leopard poaching are their use in traditional medicines, but in Pakistan, such practices are not known, rather poaching is taken as a matter of honour, bravery and pride, which could be a major driver of the practice Khan a ; Li and Lu These studies reflect an alarming situation of wildlife poaching and trade in the country, but little evidence is available from the legal agencies and intergovernmental authorities on the issue Khan b ; Aisha and Khan Similarly, the motivation behind poaching, particularly that of snow leopard, has not been addressed. It indicates that the issue is not known to the legal agencies and first-hand information is not available to the line departments. It can be assumed that all types of poaching and trade of snow leopards and their products on the national or international market, which are originating from Pakistan, would be from the snow leopard range of the country. Even if these are happening in some bordering countries, they might first enter and appear in the snow leopard range because this area connects with neighbouring countries via several unchecked and unregulated routes and passes. Until now, no such attempt has been made to quantify the level of snow leopard poaching and trade in the high-altitude areas where the species dwell. Although a very discouraging situation of active prosecution and marketing of snow leopards was reported by Khan a , b from market surveys in different cities of Pakistan. However, it is unknown from where these pelts and products originated. It is then irrefutable that little or no attempts have been made in the areas where these incidences occur. The main drivers of poaching and this black market in the snow leopard range of Pakistan, which is critical for the conservation of snow leopards, are also not well known. This may be partly due to financial and other restrictions in reaching far-flung areas, in addition to lack of indigenous knowledge of the area and people who are involved at the grassroots level in poaching and trade of wild animals. This study is aimed at investigating the dynamics and drivers of snow leopard poaching and trade in Pakistan. The study also focuses on the possible routes and destinations of snow leopard products exported from and imported to the country during a period of 13 years — The current study was conducted in Pakistan. The snow leopard range in the country spreads over an area of 80, km 2 in the northern mountainous belt, including the Hindu Kush, Pamir, Karakoram and Himalayas MOCC and is the main focus of this study. In addition to the snow leopard range, the study also surveyed major cities, including Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Lahore, Swat and Peshawar, to collect data on the snow leopard trade. Map of the study sites showing the intensity of snow leopard poaching per km2 during the study period — Since the investigation of wildlife poaching and trafficking is a sensitive issue and cannot be ascertained through a single method, the researchers used a mix of investigative tools in this study Fig. The survey was conducted from December to June Firstly, we distributed structured questionnaires to the wildlife staff in each district and provincial or regional headquarters to gather reported, pursued and prosecuted cases of snow leopard and other carnivores during the study period, i. A total of 11 districts wildlife offices in three provincial departments were surveyed during the study, along with three non-governmental conservation organisations operating in the snow leopard range to gather the required information. Next, we surveyed potential pelt markets in major cities outside the snow leopard range including Swat, Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi Khan b. We also conducted thorough surveys in each district of the snow leopard range, focusing on major markets in each town; i. A total of 97 shops in 17 different markets in the above-mentioned cities were visited as potential buyers and dealers of pelts and other parts of snow leopards MaMing ; Aisha and Khan ; Maheshwari and Niraj Schematic of methodological workflow adopted during the study. Subsequently, based on the information obtained so far, a separate questionnaire was developed to collect poaching and trade data from the local interviewee in the snow leopard range valleys, including herders, hunters, shopkeepers, local taxidermists, experts and other potential informants See Suppl. We interviewed respondents in different villages which are situated inside the snow leopard range in Pakistan. Carefully worded questions were asked from the respondents following Li and Lu Through the interview, questions were asked from the respondents, such as year, month, district and village where the animal was poached, sex of the animal, intention and reason of killing, whether the poacher was apprehended or not, where it was sold and who bought the specimen, what was the known price, how the animal was killed etc. Personal information, like the names and addresses of the respondents, were not recorded on paper to gain their confidence. The authors have a decades-long presence in the study area and have worked with the communities for a long time. We also identified 2—3 potential informants in the valleys, trained them in data collection and engaged them in the surveys, particularly in Hunza, Swat and Nagar Valleys, as they could speak the native language and have familiarity with the locals MaMing To avoid an unrealistic and inflated number of snow leopard poaching, a poaching incident was considered, based on the presence of whole animal skin, photograph, the information provided by an expert in the field or a reliable eyewitness Li and Lu ; Nowell et al. Other parts like teeth and claws were not considered separately to enumerate snow leopard poaching, while unverifiable reports were excluded from the final dataset before analysis. Thus, we report a minimum figure of snow leopard poaching in this paper. Lastly, we conducted a desk review and online research for news related to poaching, apprehending, prosecution and smuggling related to snow leopards. Search engines such as Google and social media, like Facebook and Twitter, were scanned for similar posts and stories. Besides, we looked into the archives of major national and local online Urdu and English language newspapers. Data collected from different sources and tools were decoded in excel sheets, cleaned, verified and validated by filtering double counts and duplications to obtain the final data for analysis. To avoid double entries, particulars of each reported case from the community survey, government offices, expert opinions and news reports were tallied Maheshwari and Niraj We used details of each case like date, sex of the animal, district and village where animals were poached or sold, price, description of poaching method, case registered, photographs and report of the eyewitness to filter the data and verify it See Suppl. For instance, if a poaching case were reported by the government offices, non-governmental organisations, newspapers and other sources, it was counted only once. We recorded a total of verified poaching observations. The distribution of poaching incidences reported per km 2 was higher in Hunza District followed by Ghizer, Nagar and Gilgit Fig. Snow leopard poaching and trade rate also mixed temporally. Average poaching incidences per year were estimated as 7. Similarly, poaching was higher during the winter months with average reported cases of 4. Temporal distribution A Year-wise B Month-wise of poaching incidences recorded. Poaching methods and factors influencing poaching of snow leopard. Similarly, out of the poaching cases reported, 63 were male, 25 were female, while the sex of the remaining 13 was unknown. Data collected from the respective wildlife departments revealed that the strength of the field staff was less than one person per km 2 and most of the staff lacked proper field gear and transport facilities. Our study revealed that poaching and trade continue to be one of the main threats to snow leopards in Pakistan, as well as in other range countries Maheshwari and Niraj However, documentation of poaching and trade in iconic species, such as snow leopards, is very difficult due to the secretive nature of the business, fear of reporting incidences and the lucrative monetary benefits associated with the illegal wildlife trade. Although utmost care was taken while conducting the survey, filtering, verifying and analysing the data obtained from various sources, yet the data presented here may not be free of error and potential bias. Some limitations may have been introduced due to the data collection method viz. Lack of reports from some areas of the snow leopard range and a higher number of poaching incidents from other areas may not reflect the actual scenario, but rather could be the result of more vigilance of the contributors and familiarity of the data collector with the area. Similarly, the motivation behind snow leopard killing could not be correctly determined. Though the interviewee and experts were asked specific details about each case they reported, there is a possibility of error due to recall over a long period. Consequently, the data reported in this study are likely to cover a portion of the actual poaching and trade in snow leopards in the country. Moreover, we could not enumerate how many snow leopards died both natural and poached during the survey period. Secondly, reliable estimates of the snow leopard population are not available for the country Ale and Mishra Therefore, it is difficult to determine the exact contribution of poaching to the annual mortality of snow leopards in the country. Previous studies conducted in the global range of snow leopards Nowell et al. In this study, we included communities that live along with snow leopards in the data collection to enhance the accuracy and reliability of the data. Rashid et al. Studies aimed at investigating sensitive issues, such as poaching and trade in iconic species, have management implications and must be planned with the utmost care to ensure a meticulous interpretation of the outcomes. Spatial distribution and intensity of snow leopard poaching measured in this study can be subjected to access and availability of data, socioecological drivers, such as the abundance of snow leopards, the status of prey, effectiveness of the surveillance system and intensity of the human-carnivore conflict Din et al. At a temporal scale, poaching incidences increased in the winter months. This is the time when snow leopards descend to lower altitudes following their wild and domestic prey and adapt to the comparatively smaller landscape, thus triggering mass livestock predation incidences Din et al. Moreover, the mating season starts in winter Dec-March , which is characterised by vocalisations and marking Fox and Chundawat Thus, the climate and behaviour response of snow leopards make them prone to poachers and susceptible to poaching in the winter months. Just like other parts of the snow leopard range Theile ; Nowell et al. Direct killing is, thus, driven by: a protection of livestock, which constitutes a major source of income for the communities in the snow leopard range and b trade in fur or other body parts. The latter, for most of the time, ends up in the marketing of fur or even the whole carcass Theile , although retaliatory killing and poaching for trade are difficult to differentiate Li and Lu Motivation in the remaining cases was for decorative pieces and other luxury items. EIA and Li and Lu have reported a shift in snow leopard poaching towards luxury products. Unlike other parts of the snow leopard range, such as China Li and Lu ; Nowell et al. However, the presence of smuggling snow leopard parts to other neighbouring countries for medicinal use cannot be denied. The killing of juvenile snow leopards and live capture also supports this notion, as six sub-adults and two juveniles were reportedly killed during our study. Our findings suggest that the frequently used method of poaching snow leopards is shooting in Pakistan, which is supported by other available studies Nowell et al. However, where the intention of killing was trade, foot traps were preferred over the shooting Theile In Pakistan, shooting and hunting guns are not banned; one only needs a licence from the Wildlife Department and people usually carry guns to high pastures, which makes it easier to use instead of other means of poaching. Secondly, snares need more technical skills and can be easily detected by field staff of line departments. Therefore, it is necessary to consider stricter regulations for shooting guns, while devising conservation measures for snow leopards in the country. Snow leopard pelts and other body parts were reportedly transported to large cities, such as Peshawar, Islamabad, Rawalpindi and even Lahore and Karachi Khan a for onward shipment to the Middle East and other countries Khan b. Similarly, poached animals or parts were also reportedly transported to China Khan a , b. Since Pakistan shares a long open border with Afghanistan, pelts and trophies of snow leopards and Marco Polo sheep Ovis ammon polii were reportedly smuggled to Pakistan as was reported in previous studies Theile Snow leopards are protected animals in Pakistan under provincial wildlife laws and listed in CITES Appendix I, thus prohibiting commercial international trade. However, a detailed analysis of the updated Wildlife Acts of the range provinces revealed that snow leopards and any other carnivore can be shot in self-defence or to defend livestock from a reasonable distance. Furthermore, the maximum monetary penalty proposed to kill a snow leopard is around 45, PKR USD or three years of imprisonment or both as per the revised Wildlife Act The monetary penalty is less than the monetary value of the snow leopard pelt in the local market. Law enforcement and strict regulations alone may not produce the required outcome for controlling snow leopard poaching when multiple socio-ecological factors like the rarity of the species, high incentives for poaching and higher demand for the parts of the animal are operating Carter et al. Despite operational constraints, such as limited staff strength; i. This study is the first-ever attempt to draw attention to the conflicting issues related to snow leopard poaching and trade in the country. Detailed analysis of the dynamics of the poaching and trade in snow leopards indicates that snow leopards are persecuted annually in significant numbers with killing in retribution and trade being the major motives, earning ample revenue on the black market. Moreover, black markets exist not only both regionally and nationally, but also internationally. Laws protecting wildlife have loopholes and provide outlets for the culprits to escape. These gaps can be filled by improving existing laws and enhancing the strength of patrolling staff by equipping them with the required facilities. The model can be replicated internationally by fostering transboundary management of illegal wildlife trade through information sharing and joint management of trans-border areas. The poaching incidents, reported here, may not be exclusive or accurate because informants are usually reluctant to report on the number of animals killed besides ensuring anonymity. The various socio-ecological factors involved in snow leopard poaching Carter and Linnell , not covered in this article, need to be elucidated for a greater understanding of the issue. According to Carter et al. Moreover, it is crucial to recognise the kinds of economic incentives that would benefit the conservation of snow leopards as a motivation, as the causes of poaching may not be limited to those revealed here. The currently known major causes of snow leopard killing, such as livestock predation, could be tackled by devising government-operated compensation schemes, which are mentioned in wildlife regulations. The authors of this paper are indebted to all informants and investigators who participated in this study. Explanation note: Questionnaires used to collect data on snow leopard poaching and trade in Pakistan. Research Article. Nature Conservation ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank. Keywords conflict , illegal trade , northern Pakistan , pelt , poaching , retaliatory killing. Science : — Ayling J What sustains wildlife crime? Rhino horn trading and the resilience of criminal networks. Journal of International Wildlife Law and Policy 16 1 : 57— Bending ZJ An introduction to the illegal trade in wildlife: A snapshot of the illicit trade in rhinoceros horn. AJEL 2: e Ecology and Society 19 3 : e Ambio 46 3 : — Chapron G, Legendre S Some insights into snow leopard Uncia uncia demography by using stage-structured population models. Citeseer, 1— Elsevier, New York , — Ecology and Society 22 2 : art Global Ecology and Conservation e Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences 29 1 : — Environmental Investigation Agency, 2 pp. Behavior and ecology. Elsevier, New York , 13— Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 1 : 16— Hussain S The status of the snow leopard in Pakistan and its conflict with local farmers. Oryx 37 01 : 26— European Journal of Wildlife Research 60 2 : — Lavorgna A Wildlife trafficking in the Internet age. Crime Science 3 1 : e5. Biological Conservation : — CAT News 64 : 57— MaMing R Market prices for the tissues and organs of snow leopards in China. Selevinia : — Oldfield S The trade in wildlife: regulation for conservation. Routledge, pp. Animals Basel 10 4 : e Science : e Cambridge, UK, 84 pp. Nature : e Biodiversity and Conservation 9 7 : — Supplementary material Supplementary material 1 Questionnaire 1. Data type: pdf file. The Open Database License ODbL is a license agreement intended to allow users to freely share, modify, and use this Dataset while maintaining this same freedom for others, provided that the original source and author s are credited. Download file

Snow Resorts

Islamabad buying snow

More than 4 feet 1 meter of snow fell in the area of the Murree Hills resort in the town of Murree near the capital Islamabad on Friday night and early Saturday. The heavy snow caused hundreds of vehicles to become buried or otherwise stuck. Most of the victims suffered hypothermia as temperatures fell to minus 8 degrees Celsius A rescue physician said some died of carbon monoxide poisoning from running their car heaters while their mufflers were choked by snow. Punjab police said in a statement that all roads in and around the resort had been cleared but that incoming traffic to the resort was still not allowed. Police said some vehicles were pulled from the snow and the remaining stranded tourists were taken to safety Saturday night. Most were taken to one of five military-run relief camps and provided with medication and hot meals. The government of Prime Minister Imran Khan came under heavy criticism for not being prepared for the situation and for acting too late, causing the heavy loss of human lives. Khan acknowledged in a tweet that the administration was caught unprepared by the heavy snow and huge number of tourists traveling to the resort. Traditionally many Pakistanis, regardless of the weather forecast, flock to Murree Hills at the first report of snowfall. Located 28 miles 46 kilometers north of the capital of Islamabad, Murree is a popular winter resort town that attracts well over a million tourists annually. Streets leading into the town are often blocked by snow in winter. Among the dead were an Islamabad police officer and seven members of his family, a couple with two sons and two daughters from the garrison city of Rawalpindi and four friends from the northwestern city of Mardan. Their funerals took place Sunday in their native towns. The Islamabad officer, Naveed Iqbal, died along with his sister, three nephews and three of his children. Hamilton Police say a man who was accidentally shot by a child after allegedly allowing the six-year-old play with his gun is among many facing firearm-related charges in separate incidents. In a press Organizers are taking Ontario has tabled its first bill as a new legislative sitting gets underway Monday, which would give the province the power to stop cities from constructing some new bike lanes. Transportation Minister Ontario is wrestling with delays and shortages of supplies needed for home and palliative care, with dying people unable to get sedatives and patients going to hospital because their supplies have run Fire officials are trying to determine how more than a dozen electric bicycles went up in flames in the underground parking lot of a midtown residential building. Shauna Hunt on the 3-alarm blaze that sent one person to hospital. Residents of a Markham neighbourhood are in shock after a man in his 40's was shot and killed Saturday night in an attack police are now calling 'targeted. He was registered to run in the Toronto Waterfront Marathon. But now, a Kitchener resident is left frustrated with downtown road closures that prevented him from making the starting line in time. Catalina Gilles reports. It's one of the newest additions to the Royal Canadian Navy and this weekend, visitors are invited to board the impressive vessel docked in Hamilton Harbour. CityNews' Rob Leth reports. With your consent we may collect cookies and information to enhance our service, and improve your experience. These cookies and data are essential for browsing our website and allowing services. Examples include, session, authentication, and security cookies. These cookies and data enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalized content. These cookies and data inform us which pages are most informative and engaging via analytics. These cookies may track data across websites for marketing and interest-based advertising to provide personalized content, offers, and advertisements. Snow cleared after deaths of 22 people at Pakistani resort. By The Associated Press. Posted January 9, am. Last Updated January 9, am. The Associated Press Submit a Correction. Accessibility Feedback. Hamilton man shot after letting 6-year-old play with gun: police. Speakers Corner. Ontario tables legislation that includes ban on some bike lanes across the province. Supply shortage for Ontario home care, palliative patients 'unacceptable': minister. Most Watched Today. New details emerge regarding 'Hot in Toronto' Music Festival. E-bikes catch fire in 3-alarm blaze. Markham man killed in 'targeted' shooting. Marathon runner's hopes dashed by Toronto traffic congestion. More Videos. Adjust preferences. Configure Allow All. Essential Required. More Details.

Islamabad buying snow