News & Stories
When Wildlife Reclaims the Hills
September 26, 2026
In September 2022, Dawn reported an unusual pattern in the Margalla Hills: wildlife was making greater use of areas that had experienced reduced human activity.
Camera-trap material and observations cited in the report included leopards, Kalij pheasants, porcupines, foxes and wild boars. The report linked the change to lower human disturbance and described wildlife using areas closer to trails and previously busier spaces.
Habitat needs room to function
Wildlife does not simply need land on a map. It needs habitat in which it can feed, move, shelter and reproduce with sufficient freedom from disturbance.
This is particularly relevant to a national park bordering a major capital city. The challenge is not necessarily to keep people out of nature; it is to manage human access in ways that allow wildlife to retain secure habitat.
Responsible hiking, staying on designated trails, respecting closures and avoiding deliberate approaches to animals can all contribute to that balance.