|
National Park It is an area which is conserved or protected by the state, and recognized by the national government. It is usually build on land, sometimes in sea or fresh water. Often made for the conservation or protection of wildlife animals and plants, also for the excursion and enjoyment of the general public. National parks come under the Category II type of the IUCN. There are thousands of national parks in the world. The 1st one was established in USA in 1872. National Park is relatively large area where Human activities are prohibited and Ecosystem cannot be altered by them Well managed work done by the Govt. to prevent exploitation Some conditions apply on the visitors while visiting the national park There are following main purposes of establishing national parks Research For Recreation purposes To protect the biodiversity, natural resources for the future generations In Pakistan there are 29 National parks, located in different cities and conserving number of Fauna and Flora species. Some of the important National Parks of Pakistan are as under Kirthar National Park Hingol National Park Ayubia National Park Chitral Gol National Park Machiara National Park Deosai National Park Lal Suhanra National Park Hazarganji National Park Margalla National Park Khujenrab National Park Central Karakoram National Park Saiful Muluk National Park 1. Hingol National Park It’s located in Balochistan,
along the Makran coast. Pakistan’s largest National Park, and about 190KM
from the Karachi. Hingol National park was established in the 1988 and it
covers an area of 165700 hectors. It spreads over three districts of
Baluchistan i.e. Lasbella, Gawader and Awaran. By recent it has been merged
with another Park and new name is Dharune-Hingo National Park. The area of
park possesses a big biodiversity of vegetation topographical features. The
land of the park is coastal semi-desert due to large tracts of drift sand. Hingol
river estuary linked with this park thus hold up a large diversity of fish
and bird species. Fauna It has been
estimated that Hingol National park protects around Mammal species 35, Reptiles
along with amphibian species estimated around 65, and Birds species around
185. It also known to support number of endangered species. There are number
of crocodiles in Hingol river and it nurtures them for centuries. Threatened and endemic species of fish like
Mahasheer, marsh crocodile, Green marine Turtles and Olive Ridley and some of
the dolphins live there. This park proved to be the best habitat for wild
animals like Ibexes over 3000, Chinkaras more than 1200 and Urials around
1500, also number of migratory birds. Houbara is major bird along with Dalimatian
and billed pelican are among the visitors of this park. Some other mammals that protected here include Sindh Leopard, Indian
fox and Jungle cat, Golden Jackle. 
Flora There is wide
variety of topographical feature and habitats in Hingol national park, so it supports
a large variety of plants in its land. It has been recorded that around 250
plant species are habitant of this park. Among which 7 are still undescribed.
Work is underway to collect more species in this park. 2. Kirthar
National Park It’s the 2nd
largest national park of Pakistan. It covers an area of around 3087 square
kilometers. It was established in 1974; in 1975 it gained the National park
status and was the 1st Pakistani National park which was included
in the United Nation’s National park list of world. It is included under the
conservation category II area. It protects a wide variety of Fauna and Flora.
It is located in the south-west of the Sindh and having a historical place
like Ranikot Fort. It has mostly dry and arid land, hilly and rocky terrains,
and endless landscape of desert. Area is also known as Kirthar Mountain
range. Area was available for hunting before 1974. Hub lake is also present
which covers area around 82 square KMs. The climate of the park is same as of
the Sindh, hot and drier in summer months while humid and little cool in
winter. Rainfall usually occurs in monsoon. Fauna and Flora As it has extensive
range of hilly mountains which are twisted and proved to be refuge for the
variety of animals. Exact number of animals is not known here however since
1972, none of the animal been shot to date. Las animal who was shot was
Leopard. Many endangered species of animals are being protected in this park.
Threatened species like desert lynx is protected here. It is estimated that
around 26 species of the mammals are protected in this park. Main includes
Indian Fox, Jungle cats, Indian Leopard, Urials, Chinkara Gazelles, Striped
Haynas, Sindh Ibex, and some other goat and sheep species. Bird species
includes Vultures, larks, eagles, and Kingfisher. Blackbuck antelopes are
kept in enclosures for a reintroduction project at Kirthar National Park. There is very
limited flora found in this park as most of the topographical area is hilly
and dry. However some of the weeds and plant species are still found and
protected here. 3. Ayubia
National Park It is small
national park situated in Murre hills. It was established in 1984 east to the
Khyber Pakhtonkhwa. It was named after
president of Pakistan Gen. Ayub Khan. Initially covered an area of 1684
hectares but in 1998 it was extended to 3312 hectares. It is managed by the
wildlife and forest department of the KPK and main purpose of establishing it
to preserve the temperate forests. Seven major villages and 3 towns
Thandiani, Nathiagali, and Khanspur surround the National Park. The climate
of the park is cold in summer and harsh in the winter. During winter the park
is covered with snow falling. Rain is frequent during monsoon. Rainfall is around 1234cm, and temperature
remains cool 3 degrees Celsius to 11 degree Celsius. Major Fauna and Flora This park provides
protection and support to the vast variety of the animals, like black bear
and elusive leopard. It supports around 31 species of mammals which include
Asiatic leopard, Kashmir Hill fox, Red Flying squirrel, Masked Civet, Rhesus
Macaque. This park anchors 203 species of birds so bird watching is excellent
here. Some of the major bird species includes Collard Dove, Spotted Dove,
Vulture, Golden Eagle, Hawk, Eurasian Sparrow, Hill pigeon, Khilij pheasant
having 30 species, honey buzzard, Kastrel, Indian Sparrow hawk.  4.
Chitral Gol National Park It is located in
the KPK, on the land of Kafir Kalash and the beautiful Gol valley of Chitral.
Snowy mountains and pine trees surrounds this park. It covers an area of
around 7780 hectares. It was established in 1984. Annual rainfall is pretty
good estimated around 462 ml. Often snow falling in the winter season and
generally the weather is clod. Temperature ranges from the -12.3 to 43
degrees Celsius. Major Fauna and Flora Some glaciers are
also part of the park so there is vast variety of animals protected in the
park. Especially Markhor is found abundantly. It has the big population of
the Astor Markhor. Besides this some other animals like Siberian Ibex, Red
wolf, snow leopard, asian leopard, Ladkh Urial, Asian black bear. Common
birds found are golden eagle, himaliyan Vulture, snow patridge, demoiselle
crane. It also hosts and
protects the biodiversity of plants. Cedar tree are found in numbers in the
park.  5.
Machiara National Park This park is
located in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir, in Neelam Valley. It was established
in 1996. It covers an area of 13532 hectares.
It is kind of forest. It is most unique in a sense that it protects
amazing birds like Tragopan Pheasants. It is bird of western countries.
People visit this park for recreational activities, research and surveys. The
main purpose of this park is to protect the plant and animal species for the
development of the country. Major
Fauna and Flora Animals like
leopard, Tigers and Lions, monkeys, Wolves are the habitant of this park.
Different kinds of other animal species like Brooke’s leaf-warbler, Melanocephalus,
Cheer pheasants catreus wallichi, white cheeked-tit Aegithalos leucogeny’s, Western
Tragopan some more are protected here. 6.
Deosai National Park It’s located in
Gilgit Baltistan within Sakrdu District. It’s northern Pakistan which is
south to the Indus river. It is among the world’s highest altitude alpine
plain about 4114 meters above the sea level. It was established in 1993 and
covers an area of 358400 hectares. It has eroded soil,
which is mixed with gravel and stone having various sizes and material.
Between the mountains the soil is deep with marshy vegetation. The purpose of
this park is to protect some of the endangered species. Fauna
and Flora Protection of the
Himalayan Brown Bear was the main objective of this park and also its
habitat. There were only 19 in numbers in 1993, but now in Deosai park in
2005 the number was 40, and the bear has hope for its survival. Deosai plains
also habitat for griffon vulture, snowcock, red fox, Himalayan Ibex, grey
wolf, musk deer, golden mamok, golden eagle, lagger falcon and Indian sparrow
hawk. Deosai Park
protected flora includes trees, herbs and shrubs. Here snow covers remains
for almost 7 months in a year. Area is rich in medical plants, like Thymu
linearis, Artemisia maritime, Ephedra intemedia. Some other species of flora
includes, Bromus Oxyodon, carex cruenta etc.  7. Lal
Suhanra National Park It was declared as
park in 1972 after the recommendation by the Wildlife inquiry committee in
1971. It covers an area of 31368 hectares. This park located in the Bahawalpur
district of the Punjab. It’s also regarded as the one of the largest park in
the south Asia. UNESCO declared it as Biosphere reserve. The land area of the
park is diverse which includes forest, wetland and desert. The primary
purpose of establishing this park is to preserve the Chinkara and Black buck.
Fauna
and Flora There is number of
animal species are protected here, some major mammals include, Rabbits
bustards, Wild cats, Deer which have desert habitats. Indian Rhino and Nilgai
are also bred in this park. Red fox, Bengal fox, Indian Wolf, Wild Boar,
Mongoose are also habitant of this park. Among the reptiles species monitor
lizards and Russell’s Viper, Indian Cobra, viper, wolf snake; spiny tails
lizards are protected here. Around 160 bird species are found here, major one
includes Houbara Bustard, Griffon Vulture, Kestrel, Lagger Falcon, Marsh
harrier, Indian Sparrow Hawk, Honey Buzzard etc. Among flora Trees
herbs and shrubs a large biodiversity is found here. .jpg) 8. Hazarganji
Chiltan National Park It’s located in
Balochistan, in Mastung District. In the east of it is Hazarganji and in west
is Chiltan so the name indicates. It
was established in 1978 and covers an area of 325000 acres, close to Kohi
Chiltan near Quetta. The park is among the suleman mountain range, desert and
forest habitats. This main objective of the establishment of this park is to
protect the endangered Chiltan wild goats and Markhors. At present the total
population of Chiltan goats is around 800. Major
Fauna and Flora Mammals of this
park include Desert Hare, Jackal, Indian wolf, Caracal, Stripped Hyena,
Leopard, Porcupine, Red fox. Birds include Scops owl, common cuckoo, Houbara
Bastard, Griffon Vulture, Egyptian Vulture, Honey Buzzard, Laggar Falcon,
Kestrel, Rock partridge, Chukor, Indian Sparrow hawk, peregrine Falcon, European bee eater, Blue
rock thrush, Desert finch. Some major reptiles include, spiny tailed lizard,
monitor lizard, Russell’s snake, viper snake and saw scaled vipers.  9.
Margalla Hills National Park It’s located in
Himalayan range of mountains. It was established in 1980 in north of the
Islamabad and covers an area of around 1200 Hectares. Topography of the area
is rugged, many steep slopes, and number of valleys. River Kurang drain this
area. Its 550 to 1500 meter above the sea level. This park is rich in
biodiversity 600 plant species, 250 bird species, 38 mammal species, and 13
species of reptiles. This park is rich in Sino-Himalayan Fauna, Leopard and
barking deer. Fauna
and Flora It has wide variety
of mammals like Porcupine, Indian Leopard, Gray goral, Barking Deer, Wild
Boar, Golden Jackal, Red Fox, Rhesus Macaque, Leopard cat, Chinkara gazelle,
bats, and pangolin are habitants and protected here. Bird species which are
protected here include, Griffon Vulture, Collard Dove, Larks, Shrikes, Khalij
Pheasant, Indian Sparrow Hawk, Egyptian Vulture, falcons, eagles and black
partridge. Some of the reptile species include, Indian cobra, Russell’s
viper, saw scaled viper, Himalayan pit viper are habitants of this park. This park has
diverse flora, vegetation on southern side is limited like Deciduous and
evergreen trees and diverse shrubs, while in north side pines and Oaks.  10.
Khujenrab National Park It’s Pakistan’s 3rd
largest National Park, which is located in Gilgit Baltistan. It was
established in 1979 and occupies and area of around 226913 Hectares. It is
adjacent to the Taxkorgan reserves China. This national is included in one of
the highest National parks of the world; approximate elevation is around 4000
meter above sea level. It was basically built to protect the Marko polo sheep
along with snow leopard and bharal. Borders of this park were mapped in 1974.
It is category II national park marked by IUCN.  Fauna
and Flora Mammalian species
which are protected here are Marko polo sheep which is endangered species,
snow leopards only 300 in numbers here, Himalayan Ibex, Red fox, brown bear, Tibetan
Wolf, Blue sheep, Western Kiang, Beach Martan, dhole, cape hare, wood mouse,
Etruscan Shrew, long tailed marmot etc. There is also a wide variety of bird
species particularly; Indian Eagle owl, Barn Swallow, Eurasian Magpie, Common
Raven, Alpine chough, Common Cuckoo, Eurasian Eagle owl, snow pigeon, Hill
pigeon, Grey Heron, Himalayan snowcock, Saker Falcon, Lesser Kestrel,
Eurasian Sparrow Hawk, Himalayan Vulture, and Bearded Vulture etc. |
.jpeg)
0 Comments