The discovery of a leopard skull and claw in Islamabad’s Margallah Hills in 2018 has challenged long-held beliefs about the presence of big cats in the area. Previously, historical records indicated leopards were not known to inhabit the Margallahs, with sightings primarily reported in the higher-altitude Murree Hills. Local accounts of “cheetay” were dismissed as myth due to a lack of concrete evidence. However, the remains confirmed a fully grown adult leopard had died naturally in the hills. Prior to this finding, a leopard was captured after entering Islamabad’s Marghazar Zoo in 2005, further hinting at their presence. The discovery suggests leopards may use the Margallah Hills as a winter retreat or have a more established, previously undocumented population in the capital region, prompting a reassessment of local wildlife distribution. The leopard’s skull is currently held at the Pakistan Museum of Natural History.