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Kirthar National
Park is located in
Kirthar Mountains
range. It is second
biggest National
Parks of Pakistan,
while Hingol
National Park being
the biggest. It is
also the first
National Park from
Pakistan to be
included in the 1975
United Nation's list
of National Parks
around the world.
Kirthar is an area
of outstanding
beauty and cultural
heritage which
provides important
habitat for a
variety of mammals,
birds and reptiles
characteristic of
the arid subtropics
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
4,471.61 km˛
protected areas
complex, being
contiguous with
Mahal Kohistan
Wildlife Sanctuary
(705.77 km˛) to the
south and Hab Dam
Wildlife Sanctuary
(272.19 km˛) to the
south-west. Surjan,
Sumbak, Eri and
Hothiano Game
Reserve (406.32 km˛)
lies just to the
east of the park.
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
some 671km of
unmetalled roads
within the park,
most of which are
negotiable only by
four-wheel drive
vehicle.
Wildlife
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. There are
now over 5,000 wild
goat, about 1,250
urial and less than
150 chinkara in the
park, and a further
400 wild goat and 70
urial in the game
reserve . A
helicopter survey
conducted in
November 2000
yielded estimates of
the total
populations of the
three large
indigenous ungulates
in the park. The
Sindh ibex
population was
estimated at 13,155
± 2460, 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 was
estimated at 10,425
± 675 and
concentrated on
rocky sites with
characteristic
vegetation mainly
near Khar and at
Dumbar, with small
numbers elsewhere.
The chinkara
population was
estimated at 1060 ±
580 and concentrated
in the lowlands,
sharing much of its
habitat with
farming. The KNP
populations of all
three species are of
conservation
importance. 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.
Mammals
Total species: 34
Mammals in the park
include Sindh
leopard (T),
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).
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.
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.
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