The Himalayan Wildlife Foundation (HWF), previously called the Himalayan Wildlife Project, is a nonprofit, non-governmental organization based in Islamabad Pakistan focused on conservation of biodiversity and cultural heritage in Pakistan. The Himalayan Wildlife Foundation is widely attributed to have saved the Himalayan Brown Bear from extinction in Pakistan, although it is not yet clear whether enough genetic diversity is available within the current population to sustain the population. The HWF is also involved in other major conservation efforts such as Rohtas Fort Conservation Programme at Rohtas Fort, and community-based management interventions in Gumot National Park, Musk Deer National Park and Neelum Valley in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Efforts of the Himalayan Wildlife Foundation in Pakistan are considered some of the leading efforts in conservation and socioeconomic development in the Himalaya. Management of Deosai National Park In 1993 the Himalayan Wildlife Project — later renamed Himalayan Wildlife Foundation (HWF) — established a research camp in Deosai, following a realization by Mr Vaqar Zakaria and Dr Anis Ur Rehman who had not found any bears in Deosai on a visit in 1987. This was the first time that the bears of Deosai became the subject of scientific inquiry and census in Pakistan. Investigations revealed that Deosai was home to just 19 bears, a much smaller number than claimed by the Wildlife Department of Gilgit-Baltistan. Realizing the importance of conserving these precious few bears as well as other mammals, various species of migratory birds and a great variety of flora, the Himalayan Wildlife Project, led by Dr Anis Ur Rehman and Mr Vaqar Zakaria, made efforts to get the unique high altitude plateau declared a national park. The same year, the boundary of the Deosai National Park was demarcated and the area received officially protected status. The Himalayan Wildlife Foundation, following the declaration of Deosai as a National Park, with support of the Wildlife Department, managed the national park through contributions of various donors, including multiple donations by the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme, for approximately ten years. In 2001, the HWF field staff, including field managers and guards were inducted into the Wildlife Department of the Government of Gilgit-Baltistan. During the time that HWF managed the National Park, both Vaqar Zakaria and Dr Anis Ur Rehman, as well as the park staff received blatant threats, when confronting illegal poachers Research efforts on the population and status of the Himalayan Brown Bear