A Himalayan lynx was caught hunting a markhor on camera

A Himalayan lynx was caught hunting a markhor on camera

According to officials, this is the first time that nocturnal predator has been filmed in the area.

The lynx, considered a rare breed locally, is found in other northern parts of Pakistan, including Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan, although its exact distribution and range is unknown.

"Outside the city of Chitral, while filming a group of markhor at the Toshi Community Game Reserve, we spotted a Himalayan lynx prepared for hunting. The wild cat did not attack the large group of passing markhor, but caught the one-year-old markhor, which was grazing by the river with its mother", WWF-P filmmaker Nyal Mueenuddin said.

According to the team, when Lynx believed the victim had been killed, he retreated to a nearby tree to rest. The camera team waited for about an hour and a half before Lynx returned to the hunt and began eating the body.

"We were able to get close to the links standing on the markhor because there was a river between us and the links. After that, the wild cat returned to the rocks where he sat himself on a rock to rest and digest. The staff also captured images of the cat drone on a rock, "said Mr Mueenuddin.

He said that the biggest threat to wildlife from human beings is due to increasing human population, revenge killings, loss of habitat, deforestation, deforestation and lack of awareness about ecosystems and food chains.

Thanks to community-based protection measures by the government and other partners, the once-extinct Kashmir Markhor population in the area has grown significantly, according to WWFP officials.

"The increase in wild uncontrolled population provides the lynx with wild prey and reduces the chances of her attacking cattle, which could force locals to kill the hunter in retaliation," according to WWFP officials.