Wildlife of Pakistan

Wildlife In Pakistan

Nature has provided Pakistan with a number of Habitats for Wildlife. If humans doesn't interfere in the wildlife and natural habitats, Pakistan can become a home for many Endangered Species. These habitats include Potohar Plateau, Kashmir Mountains, Himalayan Mountains, Karakorum Mountains, Hindukash Mountains, the Plains of River Indus and its tributaries like Ravi, Chenab, Beas, Satluj, and Jhelum, deserts of Thal, Cholistan, Nara and Tharparkar, Forests of Waziristan and Ziarat, Balochistani Plateau, Tanda dam, Thanedar Wala, Chashma Barrage, Taunsa Barrage, Uchhali Complex, Haleji lake, Hub Dam, Kinjhar lake, Miani Hor, Makran Coast, Astola Island, Hingol National Park, Kalmat Khor, Gwatar Bay, Ormara Beach, Hawk'e Bay and Sandspit Beach.

>Wildlife From Kingdom Plantae:

Species from Kingdom Plantae include Conifer, Scrub, Kikar, Mulberry, Sheesham, Reed beds bush, Tamarsik Bushes, Deodar, Juniper, Date palms, Ephedra, Marsh Grasses of Apluda & Cenchrus, Mangrove, Avicennia Marina, Ceriops roxburghiana, and Aegicerias corniculata.

>Wildlife From Other Kingdoms:

There are a number of non-threatened mammal species found in Pakistan. These are Bharal, Eurasian Lynx, Himalayan Goral, Indian Leopard, Marco Polo Sheep, Marmot, Yellow-throted Martin, Nilgai, Red-Fox, Wild Boar, Caravel, Balochistan Dormouse, Balochistan Leopard, Blanford's Fox, Dromedary Camel, Goitered Gazelle, Indian Crested Porcupine,  Long-eared Hedgehog, Markhor, Ratel, Persian Leopard, and Stripped Hyena. Besides these mammal species, birds species of Chukar Partridge, Eurasian eagle-owl, Himalayan Monal, Himalayan Snowcock, Alexandrine Parakeet, Barn owl, Black Kite, Myna, Hopooe, Indian Peafowl, Red-vented Bulbul, Rock Peigon, Shelduck, Shikra, Dalmatian Pelicans, Demoiselle Crane, Osprey, Common Kingfisher, Greater Flamingos & Lesser Florican and amphibian species of Himalayan Toad, Muree Hills Frog, Indus Valley Bullfrog, Indus Valley Toad and reptile species of Indian Cobra, Indian Star Tortoise, Sindh Krait, & Yellow Monitor. Some of the endangered species include Asiatic Black Bear, Himalayan Brown Bear, Indian Wolf, Kashmir gray Langur, Kashmir Red Deer, Markhor, Rhesus macaque, Siberian ibex, Smooth-Coated otter, Snow leopard, White-bellied Musk Deer, Axis Deer, Indian Elephants, Asian Golden Cats, Blackbuck, Hog deer, Dholes, Indian Rhinoceros, Punjab Urial, Sindh ibex, Chinkara, Indian Wild Ass, Asiatic Cheetah & Bengal Tiger, Birds species of Cheer Pheasant, Peregrine Falcon, Western Tragopan,  White-backed Vulture, Bearded Vulture, Grey Patridge, Houbara Bustard & merlin, Reptile Species of mugger crocodile, Black Pond Turtle, Gharial, Leopard Gecko, Saw-scaled Viper, Green Sea, Loggerhead, Hawksbill, Olive Ridley, Leatherback & Yellow-Bellied Sea Snake and amphibian species of Balochistan Toad, Common Snakehead, Giant Snakehead, Indus Baril, Rita, Hilda, Golden Mahseer and Shrimp.

>Conservation Of Wildlife:

Although Wildlife of Pakistan is in danger, yet the government has taken some actions to protect Pakistan's Wildlife. An important step towards the conservation of Wildlife is National Action Strategy of 1993. 4 Natural Forests are successfully protected under this act. These forests are as follows:

1. Birir Valley Coniferous Forest

2. Jhangar Scrub Forest

3. Sulaiman Coniferous Forest

4. Ziarat Juniper Forest

Following Artificial Resource Managed Forests were also planted under this act:

1. Changa Manga Forest

2. Chichawatni Plantation

3. Khipro Reserve Forest

Mainly Two notable organizations are working in this conservation process. These are World Wildlife Fund for Nature(WWF, Pakistan) and Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency(PEPA). These organizations are playing an important role in conservation of wildlife. But the current amount and speed of work is not enough to save endangered species.

>Picture Gallery:

Marmot

Eurasian Eagle-Owl

Muree Hills Frog

Rhesus Macaque

Peregrine Falcon

Mugger Crocodile

Potohar Plateau

River Indus

Reed Bed

Nilgai

Shikra

Yellow Monitor

Indus Valley Toad

Asian Golden Cat

White-Backed Vulture

Black Pond Turtle

Grey Patridge

Ziarat

Date Palm

Goitered Gazelle

Asiatic Cheetah

Houbara Bustard

Saw-Scaled Viper

Keenjhar Lake

Dalmatian Palican

Fishing Cat

Lesser Florican

Greater Flamingo

Apluda

Giant Sneakhead

Golden Mahseer

A. Marina

Leatherback

Gharial

>Many of these species are protected in Pakistan because these are prohibited in Islam to use as food. In other words, many of them are Haraam in Islam.

>Zoos of Pakistan:

All over the world, zoos are used to kept nearly extinct species in order to protect them from harms and extinction. They are also used for Entertainment. But in Pakistan, zoos are not the protection zone. Instead, they are the zones for the destruction of Animals.  Poor Hygiene conditions, less health service, less availability of food and some other factors are causing the death of Animals. There are 14 zoos in Pakistan which are under the supervision of GOP. 

An old dead lion in its cage in Karachi Zoo

>Destruction of Wildlife:

Wildlife of Pakistan is under threat because timber mafia is active in destroying natural habitats of wildlife by cutting more and more trees for commercial use. As habitats are less, there is no place for wildlife to live. Moreover, humans are killing endangered animals to get things from them. Government has to take serious actions against these. 

Here are two pictures showing the destruction of wildlife:

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