A wild leopard was spotted near the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) in Islamabad, sparking safety concerns among students and staff. CCTV footage showing the animal roaming on or near the campus at night went viral on social media this week.
The sighting happened on the night of March 24, 2026. The Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) quickly confirmed the presence of the common leopard. Teams visited the site and installed trap cages to safely capture the animal and move it to a safer location away from populated areas. Officials are also working closely with NUST administration to ensure the protection of students and staff.
This is not the first such incident. Similar leopard sightings have been reported recently at the nearby International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) and in sectors H-12 and H-10. Wildlife experts explain that leopards living in the Margalla Hills National Park sometimes wander into city areas. They usually enter through green belts, drainage channels, or forested patches, especially during night hours when human activity is low.
Leopards are shy animals and generally avoid humans, but their growing presence near urban zones highlights the challenge of human-wildlife conflict in Islamabad. The Margalla Hills provide a natural habitat, but expanding city development brings the two closer.
The IWMB has advised people to stay alert, avoid going out alone at night in affected areas, and not approach the animal. Authorities are monitoring the situation closely and hope to resolve it peacefully without harming the leopard.
