by Mohebullah Naveed, Conservation Officer at Himalayan Wildlife Foundation

Nestled between the bustling metropolis of Islamabad and the rugged wilderness of the Margalla Hills, an unexpected coexistence thrives. The common leopard (Panthera pardus), a majestic and elusive big cat, has found sanctuary in the Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP)—a testament to successful conservation efforts in an urban-adjacent ecosystem.

Declared a National Park in 1980, the Margalla Hills span approximately 17,386 hectares and serve as a vital ecological corridor in the lesser Himalayas. Over the last few years, strict protection measures, habitat restoration, and anti-poaching efforts have allowed wildlife to flourish. Among the park’s most remarkable residents is the common leopard, a species that has not only survived but thrived in this unique blend of city and wilderness.

Unlike their counterparts in remote forests, the leopards of Margalla Hills have adapted to living near human settlements. They primarily prey on wild boars, barking deer, monkeys, and—occasionally—livestock, maintaining a delicate balance between natural predation and human activity. Remarkably, these leopards have learned to avoid direct conflict with humans, often moving stealthily under the cover of darkness.

I have been monitoring this population of common leopards since 2018, working closely with the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board, the custodian of Margalla Hills National Park. I often heard tales from local villagers, whispers of big cats slinking through the forest, just beyond the tree line. Their stories intrigued me, and I began my search in earnest, looking for any signs that could prove their presence and pugmarks pressed into the earth, or the faint trail of scat beneath the canopy.

Each day, I combed through the dense undergrowth, my senses sharpened by anticipation. The leopards were there but they remained one step ahead, invisible in the green maze. Common leopards are intelligent and cautious, masters of stealth with an uncanny ability to read human movement.

The breakthrough came with camera trapping, a non-invasive technique to study wildlife in their natural habitat. I still remember the electric thrill that surged through me the day I found fresh pugmarks near a village trail. I knelt beside them, awed not only by their size, but by their nearness to human life. They had always been there, quietly coexisting.

After months of tireless effort, the cameras began to tell their story. The first images appeared grainy at first, but unmistakable. A leopard, eyes glowing in infrared light, padded silently past the lens. My heart pounded as I stared at the screen. The myth had become real.

In 2021, the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board, with support from the Himalayan Wildlife Foundation, launched a scientific survey. I had the honour of being a lead team member. Our work revealed an estimated population of eight common leopards residing in the Margalla Hills National Park, a number that felt both fragile and full of promise.

The Legacy of Coexistence

The story of Margalla’s leopards is not a sudden miracle. It is the continuation of an ancient relationship, one where humans and wildlife have learned, over time, to live in shared spaces. Generations of communities around the Margalla Hills have grown up hearing stories of the “Cheeta” (leopard) and treating the forest with reverence. Many locals understand that the presence of wildlife signals a healthy ecosystem, something to respect not fear.

What we see today is not just a fragile peace, but the slow turning of conflict into coexistence. The leopards are not alone—porcupines, wild boars, barking deer, foxes, and even birds of prey have also adapted to the edges of human life. This delicate harmony is evidence that, when given space and respect, nature finds a way to thrive.

In a world where human-wildlife conflict often ends in tragedy, the Margalla Hills offer an alternative, a landscape where patience, awareness, and conservation allow species to share their ground.

A Symbol of Hope in a Growing City

Islamabad, with its 2.4 million residents, continues to expand, yet the leopards persist. Despite their remarkable adaptability, common leopards in Islamabad face numerous threats: habitat loss and fragmentation due to unchecked development, illegal construction and encroachments within protected areas, and conflict with humans when livestock is lost. While poaching has decreased, it remains a threat, as does prey depletion from overhunting and habitat degradation.

Climate change, too, casts a long shadow bringing droughts that dry up water sources and reshape the ecosystem. Without sustained conservation efforts and strong policy enforcement, these pressures could tip the balance, putting the future of Islamabad’s leopards at risk.

The continued presence of leopards in Islamabad is a symbol of resilience, adaptation, and hope. As the city grows and the pressure on natural spaces intensifies, the Margalla Hills remain a green fortress, safeguarding not only leopards but the wild heart of Islamabad.

By nurturing this coexistence and investing in community awareness, habitat protection, and scientific research, Islamabad can serve as a rare and powerful example: a modern city where wildlife is not an afterthought, but a living, breathing part of the landscape.

Let the leopards remind us that we are not alone in our cities. We share our world with claws and paws, wings and hooves, and the future of our coexistence lies in our hands.