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Abundance, distribution and conservation of key ungulate species in Hindu Kush, Karakoram and western himalayan (hkh) mountain ranges of Pakistan.
Author(s)
Muhammad Zafar Khan World Wide Fund for Nature, Pakistan, GCIC Complex, NLI colony Jutial, Gilgit, Pakistan;Karakorum International University, Gilgit (15100) Pakistan
Babar Khan World Wide Fund for Nature, Pakistan, GCIC Complex, NLI colony Jutial, Gilgit, Pakistan;University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
Ejaz Ahmed World Wide Fund for Nature, Pakistan, GCIC Complex, NLI colony Jutial, Gilgit, Pakistan
Garee Khan World Wide Fund for Nature, Pakistan, GCIC Complex, NLI colony Jutial, Gilgit, Pakistan
Anila Ajmal Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
Rehmat Ali World Wide Fund for Nature, Pakistan, GCIC Complex, NLI colony Jutial, Gilgit, Pakistan
Saeed Abbas World Wide Fund for Nature, Pakistan, GCIC Complex, NLI colony Jutial, Gilgit, Pakistan;University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan
Muhammad Ali World Wide Fund for Nature, Pakistan, GCIC Complex, NLI colony Jutial, Gilgit, Pakistan
Ejaz Hussain World Wide Fund for Nature, Pakistan, GCIC Complex, NLI colony Jutial, Gilgit, Pakistan
Abstract
The Karakoram, Hindu Kush and Himalayan mountain areas of Pakistan (Gilgit-Baltistan) are known to have significant populations of globally important wildlife species, ungulates being prominent of these, which have never been studied systematically before. This study was conducted to investigate current population, distribution, conservation and habitat condition of the six major ungulate species i.e., Himalayan ibex (Capra ibex sibirica), Blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur), Astore markhor (Capra falconeri falconeri), Ladakh urial (Ovis vignei), Marco polo sheep (Ovis ammon polii) and Himalayan musk deer (Moschus chrysogaster) in Gilgit-Baltistan. Bi-annual census surveys using direct and indirect counting methods were held in 86 potential habitats (sub catchments) during 2005 to 2010 and questionnaire based interviews were held with local hunters and herders. Results revealed that C. ibex is the most common species, followed by P. nayaur and C. f. falconeri whereas Marco Polo sheep was limited to KNP, Blue sheep to Shimshal and Soqtarabad; Ladakh urial to lower reaches of Karakoram and western Himalayas. Musk deer is confined to rhododendron dominated birch forests of western Himalayas. The study also showed that population of trophy animals i.e., Blue sheep, H. ibex and A. markhor has increased considerably whereas that of non-trophy animals i.e., Ladakh urial and musk deer have fallen down to the verge of local extinction. The increases are attributed to overwhelming success of community base conservation program, initiated by WWF, AKRSP and GB Forest & Wildlife department in 1993 while failure to save non-trophy animals is possibly due to their low economic return and lack of community interest. Efforts to maintain balance between conservation needs of the wild resource and development needs of the dependent communities is required for sustainable management of the fragile mountain ecosystem in the region.
Publication Details
Page(s) 1050-1058
DOI DOI not available
Published Journal: International Journal of Agriculture and Biology, Volume: 16, Issue: 6, Year: 2014
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