A rare Himalayan brown bear has been spotted in Kuksal, located within Khunjerab National Park in Hunza. The sighting marks one of the few confirmed appearances of the species in recent years. Officials observed the bear near a Wildlife Department office at approximately 14,000 feet above sea level.
The latest sighting confirms the continued presence of the endangered mammal in Gilgit-Baltistan’s mountainous habitats. Wildlife experts consider the Himalayan brown bear among Pakistan’s rarest large mammals. Consequently, confirmed sightings in the wild remain highly uncommon.
Conservation Efforts Support Bear Population Recovery
Experts estimate that only 150 to 200 Himalayan brown bears survive across northern Pakistan. Their populations remain small and scattered throughout remote mountain regions. Moreover, the species continues facing threats from habitat loss and illegal hunting.
Wildlife officials also cited human disturbance, waste, tourism pressure and livestock competition as major challenges. However, conservation programmes have helped improve survival rates in protected areas. A 2022 survey estimated 66 Himalayan brown bears in Deosai National Park and nearby buffer valleys.
Protected Areas Play Vital Conservation Role
The survey concluded that the population likely ranged between 58 and 77 bears. Conservation efforts intensified after Deosai became a national park in 1993. Additionally, authorities released two female brown bears into Khunjerab National Park in 2017 to strengthen the local population.
Officials said the latest sighting highlights the importance of habitat protection and regular wildlife monitoring. They also stressed the need for better waste management and public awareness. Besides the Himalayan brown bear, Khunjerab National Park supports snow leopards, Marco Polo sheep, Himalayan ibex and blue sheep.
