Kirthar National Park – The Hub of

Wildlife
• KIRTHAR National Park is home to some unique and special wildlife
species, flora and heritage.

• Kirthar National Park is located in Dadu area of the province of Sindh

in Pakistan

• The park was founded in 1974 and it covers a total area of over 3000
km/sq..
• Approximately one third of the park lies in the
north of Karachi district and two thirds in
the south-west of Dadu district.
• The park is part of a 447,161ha protected areas complex,
being

contiguous with Mahal Kohistan Wildlife Sanctuary

(70,577ha) to the south and Hab Dam Wildlife
Sanctuary (27,219ha) to the south-west.

• Surjan, Sumbak, Eri and Hothiano Game

Reserve (40,632ha) lies

just to the east of the park.

IUCN
Large natural or near natural areas set aside to protect large-scale

ecological processes, along with the complement of species and

ecosystems characteristic of the area, which also provide a foundation

for environmentally and culturally compatible spiritual, scientific,

educational, recreational and visitor opportunities.

• It is the first National Park from Pakistan to be included in the 1975
United Nation's list of National Parks around the world.

• Kirthar National Park is Pakistan's second biggest National

Park (Hingol National Park being the biggest now).

• The park is amongst the four parks in Pakistan which are being
included in United Nation’s list of famous National Parks of the world
Ecosystem

• As it is situated in Sindh, the whole national park is

in a desert and it has arid

• sub-tropical eco zone.

• A portion of the park has oasis .

• The wetlands are also their because of the
melting water coming from the kirthar mountains

• The park area is arid with mean annual

precipitation of 150-200 mm. Most of the
rainfall occurs during July and August.

• Temperature often remains extreme, exceeding

38c during most of summer.
• Kirthar National Park has the largest preservation
of wildlife including leopards, wolves, stripped
hyenas, Chinkara, gazelles, wild sheep, Sindh
Ibex and many more.

• A very rare breed of Sindh wild goats called

Blackbuck antelopes are also being
preserved in the park.
• Because of the negligence of the forest
and wildlife department, many
predators are expired

• According to an info, the last leopard was

shot dead back in 1977.
• Chitos leopard
• The park also provides various useful
water supplies for the residents of
Karachi and Dadu
Why the need of this Park ?

• Wahajuddin Ahmed Kirmani former IG, Forest, Pakistan the

country.

• He established the Wildlife Department in Sindh. His tireless efforts

resulted in getting 1,100 square miles of land in the Khirthar Range
to be declared as a national park, the biggest in sindh
• In 1977,

• 1,480 wild goat and

• 430 urial were counted in the park and

• 2,141 chinkara in the park and adjacent

• Surjan, Sumbak, Eri and Hothiano Game
Reserve.
 Sindh ibex
• The population is estimated

13,155 , and

• concentrated on the Khirthar Range, with lower concentrations on

Khambu and Dumbar and small numbers elsewhere; higher elevations
appear critical to this species.
• The Sindh urial population is estimated 10,425
and

• concentrated on rocky sites with characteristic vegetation mainly near

Khar and at Dumbar, with small numbers elsewhere.
• The chinkara population estimated 1060
and

• concentrated in the lowlands, sharing much of its habitat with

farming.
• In October 1984, 15 blackbuck from the USA
were brought to Khar visitor centre for captive propagation . It
• is planned to introduce the species to the park.
FAUNA OF KIRTHER NATIONAL
PARK
• Mammals:
Total species: 34
Mammals in the park include , Stripped Hyena (T), Desert Wolf (T),
Indian Fox (C), Sind Wildgoat (C), Blandford's Urial (V), Honey
Badger (R), Indian Pangolin (R), Caracal (T), Jungle cat (C), Jackal
(C), Chinkara Gazelle (V), Black Buck ( Reintroduced ) (R),
Hedgehog (C), Porcupine (C), Indian Grey Mongoose (C), Cairo
Spiny mouse (?) and the Rock Mouse (C).

Note: T=Threatened, V=Vulnerable, R=Rare, C=Common,

?=Unknown.
• Gorpat
• Birds:

Total species: 58
Birds in the park are
Lammegier vulture ( Winter migrant ),
Bonnelli's eagle, Imperial eagle, Tawny eagle, Golden
eagle,
Eurasian griffon vulture, Egyptian vulture, Cinereous vulture,
Lagger falcon, Red-headed merlin, Kestrel, Close-Barred
sandgrouse, Houbara bustard, Grey partridge, See See
partridge,
Stone Curlew, Indian sand grouse, Coronetted sand grouse,
Painted sand grouse, Eagle owl , Sind pied woodpecker,
Hume's
chat, Brown rock pipit, Striped buning, Finche larks,
Hoopoe,
Shrikes and Wheatears.
• The laggar falcon, however, occurs in the Indian subcontinent from
extreme south-east Iran, south-east Afghanistan, Pakistan through India,
Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and north-west Myanmar
• Reptiles:

•The Rock python, Sind cobra, Russell's viper,

Saw-scaled viper, Sind krait, Royal rat snake,
Tortoises, Desert Monitor lizard, Yellow
Monitor lizard, Sind Crocodile (Possibly
extinct) and different species of lizard and
chameleon.
 Flora of Kirthar National Park
Deciduous xero-phytic trees and shrubs form open
communities related to soil texture, depth and
physiographic factors.
•
• The principal vegetation of the park comprises
• 1.Acacia senegal
• 2.Acacia nilotica
• 3.Prosopis cineraria
• 4. Tecomella undulata
• | 5.Zizyphus nummularia
• 6.Commiphora and stocksiana
• 7.Commiphora wighgtii
• 8.Capparis decidua.
Tourisim

The best time period to visit the park is from October to

February. You can book your own rest house in the Park area by
contacting the Sindh Wildlife Management Board’s office
located on Stratchen Road, Karachi.

• While in the park, don’t forget to visit the famous Ranikot Fort
that displays an archeological significance and history dating
back to 3500 BC.
• Inside ranikot itself are two forrts

• The uppermost watchtower of Shergarh provides

a panoramic view of Mohan Patt

• It’s a must-visit place for all those who want to

have a closer view of the wildlife in detail. Every
year, the park welcomes hundreds of tourists and
brings great revenue to Pakistan’s tourism
industry.
• There are two tourist centers in the Park
managed by Sind Wildlife Management Board,
namely Khar and Karchat. The centres offer
cottage and dormitory accommodation and
guides are available. There are some671km
of unmetalled roads within the park, most of
which are negotiable only by four-wheel drive
vehicle.
•
 Threats and their measures to
BIODIVERSITY

• Some species which is threatened is Houbara bustard, the Sindh urial,

the Sindh ibex, the marsh crocodile,
The Indian cobra and python are still under hunting .
Issues:
• Habitat loss:
• Hunting and Poaching:
• Depletion of Water Resources
• Lack of Research
• Lack of Conservation and Planning
• Institutional Weaknesses
• Expansion of human settlements
• WWF-Pakistan has invoked the Environmental Protection Act 1997
to

demand an initial Environmental Assessment and then an

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to be conducted before

any development takes place.

• WWF-Pakistan is committed to protecting the country’s biological

diversity.
• National Park, spread on 308,733 hectares. WWF-Pakistan strongly
opposed the oil exploration activities and the matter was taken
to Sindh High Court as a violation of the Sindh Wildlife Protection
Ordinance 1972

• Finally, after 9 months of litigation, on October 4, 2001 the

company’s licence was cancelled.

• As also in the case of a recent real estate development project,

Island City, this will put thousands out of homes and jobs, as well
as destroy habitat and species
• The park, which is a national asset, must be preserved and
ecotourism promoted. This will help revive the economy of the area
and help pay for its upkeep.