26/07/2026
𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗼 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗼 𝗦𝗵𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝘁𝗼 𝗞𝗵𝘂𝗻𝗷𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗯 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸: 𝗔 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗮 𝗟𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗦𝘆𝗺𝗯𝗼𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗶𝗹𝗴𝗶𝘁-𝗕𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻’𝘀 𝗠𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲
By: Noor Hayat PH
There was a time when the high mountains of Khunjerav were home to one of the world's most magnificent wild sheep, the Marco Polo sheep. Alongside the Himalayan ibex, this iconic species made the Khunjerav region famous among wildlife enthusiasts and international hunters.
History records that on 4 November 1959, the renowned American hunter Algin T. Gates visited Khunjerav to hunt the Marco Polo sheep and Himalayan ibex. During that expedition, the Mir of Hunza appointed his trusted personal shikari, Mr. Gulbast, to accompany him through the mountains. This reflects the historical importance of Khunjerab as one of Central Asia's most celebrated wildlife landscapes.
Today, Khunjerav has a different and more important identity. It is protected as Khunjerav National Park, one of Pakistan's most significant conservation areas, safeguarding exceptional biodiversity, alpine ecosystems, and unique flora and fauna. This transformation from a hunting destination to a protected landscape is an achievement that deserves recognition and continued support.
However, one irreplaceable part of this ecosystem has been lost. The Marco Polo sheep, once a symbol of these mountains, no longer inhabits Khunjerav. Its absence is a reminder that conservation is not only about protecting what remains, but also about restoring what has been lost where it is scientifically appropriate.
The local communities strongly believe that the time has come to explore the scientifically planned reintroduction of the Marco Polo sheep into suitable habitats within Khunjerav National Park. Any such initiative should be based on rigorous ecological research, habitat assessments, disease risk evaluation, and close cooperation among wildlife experts, government agencies, and neighboring countries where the species still survives.
Community participation must be at the heart of this effort. The people living around Khunjerav have demonstrated for decades that conservation succeeds when local communities are genuine partners. The Khunjerav Villagers Organization (KVO) has been a pioneer in community-based conservation and sustainable natural resource management in Gilgit-Baltistan. KVO played a leading role in introducing the community-managed trophy hunting program in the region, a model that has contributed to wildlife conservation while creating incentives for local communities to protect their natural resources.
Working together, Wildlife and Parks Management Gilgit-Baltistan, KVO, local communities, researchers, conservation organizations, and international partners can develop a long-term vision for restoring this iconic species. Such collaboration would strengthen conservation while ensuring that local people remain active custodians of their natural heritage.
The successful return of the Marco Polo sheep could:
Restore an important component of the mountain ecosystem.
Strengthen biodiversity conservation in Khunjerav National Park.
Create new opportunities for scientific research and international conservation partnerships.
Promote responsible nature-based tourism, wildlife photography, and environmental education.
Inspire younger generations to value and protect Pakistan's extraordinary mountain wildlife.
We respectfully invite national institutions, international conservation organizations, universities, wildlife researchers, and development partners to join hands with the Government of Gilgit-Baltistan, Wildlife and Parks Management, and the local communities to assess the feasibility of reintroducing the Marco Polo sheep to Khunjerav National Park.
The restoration of an iconic species is never the work of one institution alone. It requires science, commitment, cooperation, and community ownership.
Let us work together so that future generations can once again witness the magnificent Marco Polo sheep roaming the high mountains of Khunjerav—where it once formed an unforgettable part of the region's natural heritage.
Together, we can restore a lost symbol of the Pamirs and strengthen the future of conservation in Gilgit-Baltistan.
