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Hingol National Park
or Hungol National
Park covers about
1,650 square km² and
is the largest of
National Parks of
Pakistan and lies on
the Makran coast in
Balochistan and
approximately 190 km
from Karachi. The
area was for the
first time declared
reserved in 1988.
The park area covers
parts of the three
districts, namely;
Lasbela, Gawader and
Owaran of
Balochistan province
containing a variety
of topographical
features and
vegetation, varying
from arid sub
tropical forest in
the north to arid
montane in the west.
Large tracts of the
NP are covered with
drift sand and can
be classified as
coastal semi desert.
The National Park
includes the estuary
of the Hingol river
which supports a
significant
diversity of bird
and fish species.
Currently, 20 staff
members including 18
game watchers, two
deputy rangers are
responsible for the
management of the
Park under the
guidance of the park
Manager who reports
to the Conservator
and the Secretary
Wildlife, Forest,
Livestock,
Environment and
Tourism.
Wildlife
Although no detailed
inventories of
wildlife have been
undertaken, Hingol
is known to support
threatened
invertebrates in
addition to a
variety of bird
species. One
reliable source
informed that the
park has been an
excellent habitat to
wild animals
including over 3000
ibexes, and 1500
Urials and more than
1200 Chinkara,
besides number of
resident and
migratory birds. The
Houbara Bustard (Chlamydotis
undulata), Dalmatian
and Spot-billed
Pelican (Pelecanus
philippensis) are
regular visitors to
the area.
The River Hingol has
been nurturing
crocodiles for
centuries. The Marsh
Crocodile (Crocodylus
palustris), Olive
Ridley (Lepidochelys
olivacea) and Green
Marine Turtles (Cheloniamydas),
endemic and
threatened species
of fish, such as the
Mahasheer occur and
schools of Plumbeous
Dolphins (Sousa
plumbea) are known
from close in-shore
areas.
Mammals
Mammals in the park
include--------Sindh
leopard (T), Indian
Fox (R), Jungle cat
(C), Jackal (C),
Sind Wildgoat (V),
Blandford's Urial
(T), Chinkara
Gazelle (T), Honey
Badger (R), Indian
Pangolin (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.
Birds
Birds in the
park are-------Houbara
Bustard, Dalmatian
and Spot-billed
Pelican, 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, 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.
Reptiles
The Marsh Crocodile,
Olive Ridley and
Green Marine
Turtles, Desert
Monitor lizard,
Yellow Monitor
lizard, and
different species of
lizard and
chameleon.
Current Events
The government is
all set to slice
land off the Hingol
National Park, the
country’s largest,
as the Pakistan Air
Force and another
defence-related
organisation eye the
prized real estate
near the estuary
whose value is
likely to increase
phenomenally once
the Gwadar port
starts functioning.
Sources in the
Balochistan revenue
department told Dawn
that while the PAF
has asked for around
80,000 acres,
including 23,000
acres in the
national park,
Pakistan Space and
Upper Atmosphere
Research
Commission’s demand
is for eight mauzas.
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