7 suffer frostbites while trying to rescue wildlife officials and snow leopard

With inputs by Farman Karim

Gilgit: Contact with three officials of a Snow Leopard Rehabilitation Center established in Naltar Valley had been lost for some days after heavy snowfall. The three officials had been deputed to the rehabilitation center to look after a snow leopard which has been kept there.

Fearing for the their safety, four locals from the Naltar Valley set on a journey to reach the stranded wildlife officials manning the rehabilitation center.

The local volunteers were able to reach the rehabilitation center and rescue the stranded officials, and the snow leopard, but in the process they suffered frostbites in their feet, said wildlife officials requesting anonymity.

The volunteers who braved the harsh winter to rescue the officials have been identified as Hakeem, Ghulam Rasool, Farooq Azam and Abdul Hameed. The frostbite affectees have been shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital Gilgit for treatment.