🦌 Signature Wildlife of GB — One of Asia's Richest Mountain Ecosystems:

🐆 Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia) — IUCN Vulnerable. GB hosts an estimated 200–420 individuals across Pakistan's northern mountains — the world's 3rd largest population. Found at 3,000–6,293m across Khunjerab NP, Central Karakoram NP and Deosai NP. Primary prey: Himalayan ibex and yak. Threatened by retaliatory killings after livestock predation; 70% of diet in GB comes from domestic animals (WCS 2011).

🦌 Himalayan Ibex (Capra sibirica) — the iconic symbol of GB. Distributed across 37% of GB's total area (MaxEnt modelling). Found at 3,500–5,500m in all major valleys — Hushey, Braldo, Basha, Hopper, Hisper, Astore. Most important prey species for snow leopard. Trophy hunting permits set at $10,000–$13,000 (2025-26 season). Population recovering due to community conservation areas.

🐐 Astore / Flare-Horned Markhor (Capra falconeri) — Pakistan's National Animal. IUCN Near Threatened. Found in steep rocky slopes of Haramosh, Juglot, Danyore, Astore and Nagar valleys. Trophy permit reached $370,000 in 2025-26 — highest in the world for any game animal. 80% of hunting revenue goes directly to local communities. Population slowly recovering from near-extinction.

🐦 Western Tragopan (Tragopan melanocephalus) — the rarest pheasant in Asia. Fewer than 5,000 individuals globally (IUCN Vulnerable). Found in conifer forests of GB at 2,000–3,600m. CITES Appendix I listed. Males display vivid red-and-black plumage with inflatable blue-purple throat lappets. Nests in low tree hollows May–June.

🐻 Himalayan Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) — fragmented populations in Deosai NP, Khunjerab NP and Astore/Nanga Parbat areas. IUCN Vulnerable. Deosai Plains is the last significant stronghold in Pakistan. Both brown and black bear (Ursus thibetanus) — black bear in Astore, Chilas, Darel and Tangir valleys.

🐑 Marco Polo Sheep (Ovis ammon polii) — IUCN Near Threatened. World's largest wild sheep by horn size. In Pakistan now restricted to one small watershed in Khunjerab NP near the China border — only ~19 individuals observed in 2012 surveys, down from ~500 in 1970 (GBFD). Occasional seasonal visitor crossing from China's Pamir.

🦁 Also present: Blue Sheep/Bharal (9% of GB suitable habitat), Musk Deer (Lower Hunza, IUCN Vulnerable), Eurasian Lynx, Grey Wolf, Red Fox, Himalayan Marmot, Woolly Flying Squirrel (endemic to Hunza), Ladakh Urial, Himalayan Monal and Golden Eagle. Total: 54 mammal species, 230+ bird species, 4 reptile species (IUCN/GB Forest Dept).

Sources: GB Forest Wildlife & Environment Dept · WCS Pakistan · Snow Leopard Trust · IUCN Red List · ScienceDirect (2025) · GoGB 2023