A rare Indian gray wolf was killed by shepherds near Bahawalpur, alarming the alarm among environmentalists on the safety of endangered species in rural regions of Pakistan.
The head of fauna and the Syed Ali Usman fauna confirmed that local shepherds had followed and killed the animal in a rural area. The carcass has been recovered and sent for the autopsy.
The authorities investigate the incident under the 2020 law on the protected areas of Punjab (modified in 2025) and have committed to depositing a case once the suspects have been identified.
The Indian gray wolf (Canis Lupus Pallipes) is an endangered subspecies originating in dry and semi-arid regions of South Asia. A little smaller and more elusive than his European parents, the animal rarely enters human establishments unless its habitat is disrupted or that food sources are dry.
Experts say that local breeders often consider wolves as threats to livestock, which leads to conflicts and reprisal killings.
“It is not only the loss of an animal – it is the loss of ecological balance,” said Badr Munnir, an environmentalist and member of the Punjab Wildlife Management Board. He underlined the key role of the wolf as a superior predator.
He added that loss of habitat and narrowing food sources often lead such predators to villages.
Conservation groups have condemned murder and call for stronger protection laws and public education campaigns to reduce human life conflicts.
They urge government organizations to engage with rural communities and promote coexistence strategies before more fauna is lost.
