Pakistani officials have launched a criminal investigation into the illegal hunting of an endangered barking deer in Islamabad’s Margalla Hills National Park, following public outrage sparked by a disturbing video circulating online.
According to Islamabad police, a case has been registered against two identified individuals, named Bashir Abbasi and Zain Abbasi, and other unidentified persons.
The complaint was filed by Assistant Director Wildlife Aisha Shahzad, who described the act as a direct violation of the Islamabad Nature Conservation and Wildlife Management Act, 2024.
Video triggers outcry and action
The tragic incident came to light after Aisha Shahzad viewed a video showing individuals slaughtering a barking deer within the national park. “After slaughtering the deer, the suspects took it to an unidentified place,” she said, according to the FIR.
Wildlife field staff conducted an immediate inquiry, leading to the identification of the suspects, who are residents of Gokina Village, located inside the protected park.
Shahzad emphasized that the barking deer is a protected species under Schedule I of the 2024 Act, adding: “What the people did was a violation of the Act, and the punishment for the violation is a fine amounting to Rs1 million and one-year imprisonment or both.”
She further requested that the police recover the remains of the animal, including the skin and skull, which are considered federal property under Section 23 of the Act.
Ministry orders inquiry
Taking notice of the incident, Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Musadik Malik condemned the illegal hunting and announced an official probe.
“Such acts of cruelty and disregard for conservation laws are unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” said Dr. Malik, in a statement issued by the Press Information Department. The minister has sought a detailed report from relevant authorities.
Legal framework and penalties
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) confirmed it had filed a complaint seeking legal action under Sections 12.4(a) and 16.1(a) of the Islamabad Nature Conservation and Wildlife Management Act, 2024. These provisions strictly prohibit the killing or harming of wildlife protected under Schedule I.
“The barking deer is a protected animal under Schedule 1 of the Act,” the IWMB stated. “A request has been made for action… punishable by a fine of Rs1 million and imprisonment for a term of up to one year.”
Calls for stricter enforcement of laws
Margalla Hills National Park is one of Pakistan’s most ecologically diverse protected areas, home to several endangered species, including the barking deer (Indian muntjac).
Environmentalists and officials have called for stronger enforcement of conservation laws to protect the area’s fragile ecosystem.
This incident follows a broader trend of wildlife violations in Pakistan. In a separate case last week, a pet lion escaped in Lahore, chasing a woman and two children before being confiscated by authorities—a reminder of the challenges in regulating wildlife and exotic animals in urban and rural settings.
As legal proceedings move forward, wildlife officials say they are committed to ensuring accountability and reinforcing protection for endangered species.
