A wildlife poaching prevention training session in Chitral was organised to enhance local rangers’ skills in tackling illegal hunting and protecting endangered species. The one-day refresher course was held through a collaboration between the Snow Leopard Foundation (SLF) and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Wildlife Department.
The initiative builds on a specialised training conducted last year and aims to improve the professional capabilities of field staff in combating wildlife crime. During the session, 12 wildlife rangers received practical guidance on collecting scientific evidence and using modern investigative methods. This included techniques for gathering biological and physical evidence at crime scenes.
Trainers also stressed the importance of preserving crime scenes, ensuring proper documentation, and maintaining the chain of custody. These steps are essential for building strong legal cases against offenders and securing successful prosecutions.
SLF Regional Programme Manager Jamiullah Sherazi highlighted that well-trained rangers serve as the first line of defence against poaching. He noted that improved skills directly contribute to reducing illegal hunting and protecting vulnerable species such as the snow leopard.
The training focused on making conservation efforts more effective by equipping field staff with both technical and legal knowledge. Divisional Forest Officer Farooq Nabi emphasised that such initiatives play a key role in strengthening institutional performance. He praised the collaboration with the Snow Leopard Foundation and expressed optimism about continued partnerships to safeguard biodiversity in the region.
The program is part of a broader effort supported by the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund (IWTCF), which aims to enhance wildlife law enforcement across Pakistan’s northern mountain regions. Recent assessments indicate that poaching remains a serious threat, making specialised training and forensic expertise increasingly important for conservation authorities.
