A rare Indian Gray Wolf has been killed by shepherds near Bahawalpur, giving alarm among conservationists about the safety of endangered species in the rural regions of Pakistan.
The vice president of the Wildlife Chief Syed Ali Usman confirmed that local shepherds tracked and killed the animal in a rural area. The body has been recovered and sent for post mortem.
The authorities are investigating the incident by virtue of the Law of Protected Areas of Punjab 2020 (modified 2025) and have pledged to present a case once they identify the suspects.
The Indian Gray Wolf (Canis Lupus Pallipes) is a subspecies in danger of native extinction of dry and semi -arid regions of southern Asia. A little smaller and more elusive than its European relatives, the animal rarely enters human settlements unless its habitat is disturbed or food sources are dried.
Experts say that local shepherds often see wolves as threats to livestock, which leads to conflicts and murders in retaliation.
“This is not just the loss of an animal, it is the loss of ecological balance,” said Badr Munir, conservationist and member of the Punjab Wildlife Management Board. He emphasized the key role of the wolf as a superior predator.
He added that the loss of habitat and the reduction of food sources often lead to such predators to the villages.
Conservation groups have condemned the murder and are asking for stronger protection laws and public education campaigns to reduce the conflict of human life.
They urge government agencies to interact with rural communities and promote coexistence strategies before more wildlife is lost.
