HAVELI (Kashmir English): A baby Himalayan grey goral — a rare and protected species — was rescued by the villagers in collaboration with the Pakistan Army and handed over to the Wildlife Department in Haveli district of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Wednesday.
The grey goral, approximately 2-3 months old, was caught by a local bakerwal in Reji Hilan village of Tehsil Khurshidabad, and initially handed over to the Pakistan Army.
The Pakistan Army promptly contacted the Haveli Wildlife Department, and the goral was handed over to the wildlife officials.
Given its young age, the goral will be transferred to the Patikka Zoo in Muzaffarabad for care and protection. An investigation is underway to determine the goral’s origin and whether its family was killed or separated.
The Himalayan grey goral is listed as “Near Threatened” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, primarily due to habitat destruction, illegal hunting, and competition with livestock. Conservation efforts are crucial for protecting this species and its habitat.
The species is native to the Himalayan region and is found in both Pakistan and India
