Snow Leopard and Other Wild Cats of Pakistan

• Scientific Name: Description: Snow leopard is strikingly different from common
leopard in appearance. It is recognizable by its Long tail, white coat spotted with
large black rosettes. Dark rosettes and spots markings appear less well defined and
are spaced further apart. Thick fur patterned with markings is the perfect
camouflage for their rocky habitat. This pattern is unique to each individual snow
leopard. Their beautiful coats are also made up of long hairs with dense, woolly
under fur to protect them against cold. Snow leopards have longer tails than other
big cats, up to 1m in length and help leopards to balance on steep and rocky slopes.
Snow leopards are solitary animals, it is rare to see two snow leopards together.
Snow leopards cannot roar. They can mew, growl, yowl and prusten. Body size can
be up to 1.3m length Weight up to around 70kg. They can jump as much as
50ft.They mate in late winter, between January and mid-March. Males and females
stay together for a short period. Males do not participate in rearing the cubs. The
gestation period is 98-104 days. The litter size can be between 1-5 cubs.
• Snow leopards’ favorite prey is herbivores: Blue sheep, argali sheep, ibex,
markhor, musk deer, marmots, hare and birds. Snow leopards also prey on livestock
bringing them into conflict with herders.
• Distribution: Snow leopard generally inhabits elevations between 2000-4000m
• Baluchistan, Chitral, Gilgit, Upper Swat valley, Slopes of Nanga Parbat, Khunjrab N.P,
Chitral gol N.p, Central Asia, Atli, Pamir, Hindu Kush, Karakorum, Himalaya

Population status: Estimated population of the snow leopard is between 3,920-6,390.
• Afghanistan 100-200
• Bhutan 100-200
• China 2,000-2,500
• India 200-600
• Kazakhstan 100-110
• Mongolia 500-1,000
• Nepal 300-500
• Pakistan 200-420
• Russia 70-90
• Tajikistan 180-220
• Uzbekistan 20-50
• There are as few as 6000 approximately snow leopards in wild.
Major threats to snow leopards:
Poaching: Snow leopards have long been killed for their beautiful fur, bones, body parts, traditional Asian
medicine.
Conflict with communities: Decline in leopard’s natural prey is forcing them to rely more on livestock for
food and increasing the risk of retaliatory killings. Decline due to hunting, competition from increasing
livestock herds and habitat loss.
Shrinking home: Snow leopards need vast areas to thrive. Expanding human and livestock populations are
rapidly encroaching on their habitat. New roads and mines are also fragmenting their remaining range.
Changing climate: All threats will be exacerbated by the impact of climate change on the fragile mountain
environment, hence putting future of snow leopards at even greater risk.
Lack of effective law enforcement: Lack of law enforcement is a contributory factor.

• IUCN status: Critically Endangered
• Description: Large sized dog like carnivores with big head, massive cheek
teeth, carnassials well developed, long developed fore legs and each foot
has four toes with non-retractile claws. Body fur with yellowish fawn
ground and in distinct broad vertical black stripes with close set black
stripes on legs. The Striped Hyaena has a conspicuous crest of longer hair
extending like a mane from the crown of the head to the pelvis. The ears
lack any bursa or pouch-like fold on their outer margin and are sharply
haired and black skinned. The legs are relatively long and slim. The dorsal
crest generally has black hair and these are erected when the animal is
nervous or excited. Voice is almost human like, it can also imitate the cries
of other animals by which means dogs by which calfs and sheep are
deceived. They are scavengers but also attack on live cattle.
• Habitat: Rocky areas, hot desert, wild open valley, semi-desert areas.
• Distribution: In Pakistan distributed in Hilly tracks of Baluchistan & Sindh.
• Recently Known Localities: Kall, Bhal, Palugram, Daphar Plantation, Jals
park, Qaderabad, Sukh-Beas near Chunian & Changa Manga, Kirthar
National Park.
• Threats: It is considered as an enemy species. Due to the non-availability of
natural food it tends to scavenge near human habitations and increasing
incidents for its killing.

COMMON LEOPARD
(Panthera pardus)
• Include Guldar, cheeta, teendwa
• Rosette patterned coat and extremely long darker tail
• Ranging from five feet with additional tail length of three feet
• Male larger than female
• Versatile hunting
• Generally nocturnal
• Main prey in Pakistan monkey, wild bear, chinkara, Urial and porcupine.
• Litter size 2 to 3 cubs (gestation period of 4 months)
• Himalayan mountains up to the tree limit in the forest of chir, kail, deodar
• Highlands of Baluchistan, Sindh, mountain forest of Punjab, KPK and azad
Kashmir
• Kala Chita hills salt range, Kirthar mountain range, Makran, Suleiman range,
Murree hills , swat kohistan , dir, chitral, Abbotabad, lower Gilgit kaghan and
Marghalla hills.`

COMMON LEOPARD
Panthera pardus)
• Status wise they are near threatened
• Throughout Africa, the major threats to leopard are
• Habitat conversion
• Intense persecution
• Chief threat is probably competition with human hunters for
prey
• Rapidly increasing threat to leopards is the poisoning of
targeting carnivores
• Skin and canines are still widely traded domestically in some
central and West African countries where parts are used and
sold openly in villages and cities
• As conservation actions Leopards need better protection from
illegal trade in skins and bones

• IUCN Red list Threat Status: Least Concern
• The Sand Cat is a true desert dweller.
• Description: The coat is soft and dense. Mostly pale sandy brown to light grey.
Slightly darker on the dorsal side and whitish on the ventral side. Body fur not
spotted. Size small ranging from 45-50cm. Forehead unspotted, chest creamy
white. Height is 24-30 cm (10-12″), weight 1.3-3.4 kg (3-7.5lbs), tail length 23-31cm
(9-12″). They have numerous adaptations to an arid life and coloring that blends in
with their environment. A reddish streak runs across each cheek from the outer
corner of the eyes. The lower half of face and chest is whitish to pale yellow. The
tawny reddish ears are black tipped, as is the tail, with few narrow black rings near
tip. The broad head has large eyes placed greatly forward. Low set, large, tapered
ears provide keen hearing for habitat where prey is scarce. Long, dense hairs
covering soles of the feet (desert adaptation). Helping them move across shifting
surfaces. They have evolved a thick coat which insulates them from the alternating
intense heat and cold of desert environment
• Reproduction: Breeding in the wild is seasonal with births born January-April.
Gestation period of 60-67 days. Usually 3-4 kittens born annually in a burrow or
among rocks. Weight at birth is 50-60gm. At two weeks their eyes open, become
independent at three to four months. Sexual maturity is reached at about 9-14
months. . They have lived to 18 years of age in captivity.
• Felis margarita distribution Native: Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Iran, Ira, Jordan,
Kazakhstan, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syrian, Arab
Republic, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Uzbekistan, Western Sahara
• Pakistan; reported in Baluchistan only.

• Ecology: Sand Cats are prolific diggers. Digging is necessary to construct and improve
burrows and dig rodents out of sand. Claws do not fully retract and are not very sharp,
mostly blunted by digging. They will drink water if it is available but can survive on the
moisture received from their prey. Enemies include snakes, jackals, owls and sand cats.
These cats cover large kills with sand and return later to feed, primarily nocturnal. They
spend the hot daylight hours in shallow large burrows dug into a dune or beneath a shrub.
They are active throughout night, hunting and travelling 5-10 km. Before retiring below
ground at dawn, a lookout position is adopted at mouth of burrow. Sand Cats are solitary
animals with a very low population. They make use of loud mating call, much like barking of
small dog. The loud barking, combined with excellent hearing, enables these cats to find
each other over great distances. Other vocalizations include mewling, growling, spitting,
hissing, screaming and purring much as in domestic cats.
• Threats: Habitat degradation and loss are considered to be the major threats to Sand Cat.
• Arid ecosystems are being rapidly converted.
• Infrastructural development
• Human settlement and activity
• Degradation occur through livestock grazing
• Killed in retaliation for killing chickens or Houbara and Macqueen’s bustard
• Locally sand cats may be threatened by the pet trade. In Iran, Sand Cats are reported to get
killed by shepherd dogs and trapped in snares set for other species.
• Desert ecosystems caused a decline in prey base. Introduction of feral and domestic dogs
and cats creating direct competition for prey and through predation and disease
transmission.
• Conservation Action: Hunting of this species is prohibited in many countries including its
native countries. On the African continent, the Sand Cat inhabits several protected areas.
Captive breeding populations exist in the range country.

LION
(Panthera leo)
STATUS: Vulnerable (IUCN red list category)
RANGE DESCRIPTION:
• Found in most countries in sub Saharan Africa
• Formerly ranged from Northern Africa through
southwest Asia
• West into Europe
• East in India
o Only reminder of this one widespread population is
a single isolated population of Asiatic lion in GIR
(Gujarat national park in India) and wild life century.
o Lions are extinct in North Africa having perhaps
survived in high Atlas mountains up to 1940.

THREATS:
• Indiscriminate killing and prey base depletion
• Habitat loss led to number of populations becoming small and isolated
• Disease
• Trophy hunting is carried out in a number of sub Saharan African countries
In parts of the southeastern Tanzania there have been alarmingly high
incidences of people killed by lions.
CONSERVATION ACTIONS:
o To reduce the human lion conflict
o To conserve and increase lion habitat and wild prey base
o To prevent illegal trade in lion and lion products
o To develop and implement legal and institutional frame work
o By setting out common priorities to guide action on both national,
community and landscape level.
o The regional conservation
o Broad and significant improvement of lion status

• IUCN Red list Threat Status: Near threatened
• Description: Indian wild ass is significantly larger than donkeys 200-290kg,
2.1-2.5 m in body length. Coat is usually sandy but varies from reddish grey,
fawn to pale chestnut. The animal possesses an erect, dark mane which
runs from back of head and along the neck. The mane is then followed by a
dark brown stripe running along back to root of the tail. The belly buttocks
and muzzle are white.
• Habitat: The Asiatic wild ass inhabits Flat steppe, Semi-desert, Desert.
• Biology and Behaviour: Indian wild asses graze between dawn and dusk.
The animal feeds on grass, leaves and fruits of plant, crop, Prosopis pods
and saline vegetation. They can break up woody vegetation with its hooves
to get at more succulent herbs growing at the base of woody plants. Males
are larger than females. Live either solitarily or in small groups. Family herds
remain large. Mating season is in rainy season. Gestation period in this
species is 11 months. Most births occur from April to September. Females
with young tend to form groups of up to five females. The mare gives birth
to one foal. Male foal weans away by 1-2 years of age, while female
continues to stay with the family herd.

• Distribution Native: China, India, Iran, Islamic Republic of Mongolia, Turkmenistan
• Regionally extinct: Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgi, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait,
Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Ukraine
• It was once found in Pakistan. As Baluchistan, Tharparkar, Sindh) uptill the late 60s.
• Threats:
• Illegal trade seems to happen primarily on a national level.
• Poaching for meat, hides and fat, is believed to have apparent medicinal
properties.
• Overgrazing by livestock reduces food availability, and herders also reduce the
availability of water at springs. The cutting down of nutritious shrubs and bushes
exacerbates the problem.
• A series of drought years could have devastating effects on this species
• Habitat fragmentation is a particular concern in Mongolia as result of the
increasingly dense network of infrastructure
• Conservation action:
• The Asiatic wild ass is included in CITES Appendix I. They do occur in a number of
protected sites where targeted conservation action has been taken reintroduction.
– Israel
– Kazakhstan
– Uzbekistan
• Domestic animals have been removed from some protected areas. Artificial
watering holes have been made. There are hefty fines for poaching. To encourage
the involvement of local people in the conservation of the Asiatic wild ass.

SNOW LEOPARD
(Uncial uncia)
• Snow leopard not believed to closely related to members of
the pantherine group
• Endangered according to IUCN status.
• In appearance strikingly different from common leopard
• Similar rosettes and broken spot markings, spaced further
apart
• Fur long and woolly
• Body size can be up to 1.3m length
• weight up to around 70kg
• Long tail of 900cm
• Restricted to high mountains of Central Asia, Pamir, Hindu
Kush, and Karakorum & Himalayan.

• Major threats include prey base depletion
• Illegal trade
• Conflict with human
• Leopard survival strategy assessed primary threats by region
• Reduction of natural prey due to competition with livestock,
killing of snow leopard, military activity and human growth
• Generally inhabits elevations between 2000-4000m even up
to 5100 meters high alpine range
• Found in mountains of Karakorum, Hindu Kush Baluchistan,
chitral, Gilgit and upper swat valley
• Also found Slopes of Nanga Parbat at the Khunjerab national
park and Chitral Gol national Park

• Main prey is wild sheep such as bharal (blue sheep) and
argali, goats including markhor and ibex
• Prey includes musk deer, marmots various species of
hare and birds
• Litter size 1 to 4 cubs (gestation period 98 days)
• Survival strategy recommends following measures:
• Promote livestock grazing practices
• Promote husbandry practices
• Vulnerability to snow leopard predation
• Improve conservation education
• Awareness among a variety of stakeholders

BLACK BEAR
Ursus americanus
STATUS:
• Vulnerable (ICUN red list category)
DISTRIBUTION:
This specie occupies a narrow band
• Southeastern Iran eastward through Afghanistan and
Pakistan.
• Across the foothills of Himalayas to Myanmar
• Occupies all countries in Southeast Asia except Malaysia
• Found in Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Russia and
Korea

THREATS:
o Habitat loss
o Habitat loss due to logging
o Expansion of human settlement
o Roadway networks
o Hydro-power stations
o Hunting for skin paws and especially gall bladders
o Commercial trade in live bears and bear parts
o Bears fight with dogs
CONSERVATION ACTION:
• To substantially lessen demand for bear products
• To reduce hunting and trade
 In most range countries Asiatic Black bear are listed as a
protected species. Throughout of the southern portion of the
range of this species efforts to reduce habitat degradation
outside.

BLACK BEAR
• Commonly called as kala Bhalu
• Medium size black colored bear
• Distinct white patch on the chest and white on the chin
• Black bear range in body length 4 to 6 feet
• Sexual maturity comes at 3 to 4 years
• Occupies a narrow band from Southeastern Iran eastward through
Afghanistan and Pakistan
• Adult is bearing 110 kg weight
• Mainly threatened by habitat loss
• Expansion of human settlement, roadway networks, hydro-power stations
and hunting for skin paws and especially gall bladders
• Commercial trade in live bears and bear parts, especially gall bladder.
• Exhibitions individual bears fight with dogs
• Asiatic Black bear are listed as a protected species
• Mainly nocturnal, sleeping in trees or caves during day
• Diet include fruits, bee, insects and invertebrates small vertebrates

BROWN BEAR
Ursus arctos
• According to IUCN status least concern
• .Widely distributed.
• Commomonly known bhura bhalo
• Large animal, dark in color
• Long guard hair over the shoulder Characterized by distinctive humps on shoulders
• Long claws on the front paws
• Sexual maturity at the 4.5 to 7 years of age
• Litter size ranges from one to four but two are common
• Cubs remain with their mothers for at least two and half years
• Female breed every three years
• Diet includes grasses, bulbs, root, insects, ants, fish and small mammals such as
Marco polo sheep and ibex bharel
• Live in mountain forest, large river
• Rarly captivated by kalanders for dancing in big cities
• Found in remote northern area of Pakistan in baltistan, hunza, gilgit, slopes of
nanga parbat, khunjrab national park and deosai pleatue near Skardu 25 to 27
individuals.

THREATS:
• Although as a whole this species is secure, isolated population are
threatened due to their low numbers and frequent contact with humans.
• Even where brown bears exist in a large, contiguous population, they are
sometimes hunted for spot and or killed for control purposes at
uncertainable rates.
• In addition to direct human removal of brown bears, many activities such as
agriculture, plantation forestry, highways, hydroelectric developments, and
human settlements erode the value of bear habitat.
• Habitat fragmentation is a serious threat that isolates population units with
deleterious demographic and genetic impacts.
• Conservation actions for brown bears vary greatly among nation and
regions within nations.
• Large population of this species are legally hunted and thus managed as a
game animal.
• Most small population is legally protected by national laws and
international agreements with varying degrees of enforcement.
• All international trade in brown bear is restricted. There are numerous
protected areas with brown bears.

• IUCN Red list Threat Status: Near threatened
• Marco polo sheep is one of the nine Argali subspecies. The name
‘Argali' is the Mongolian word for wild sheep. It is the largest
species of wild sheep.
• Description: The general coloration varies between each animal.
Light yellow to reddish brown to a dark grey brown. Argali from
Himalayas are usually relatively dark. Russian ranges argali are
often relatively pale. The legs and belly are creamy white without
any darker pattern on the frontal area. The neck in the rams tends
to be heavy and muscular. The tail is short and not bushy. In both
sexes the legs appear relatively long and slender. The face, tail and
the buttocks are yellowish white. The male has whitish neck ruff
and a dorsal crest and is usually slightly darker in color than
female. Males have two large corkscrew shaped horns.
• Measuring 6.2ft in length and Weighing up to 23kg. Males use
their horns for competing with one another. Females also carry
horns which are much smaller measuring less than 50cm in total
length.
• Habitat: Alpine areas, high mountains, snow fields, generally avoid
forested areas. Prefer to occupy open areas with a gentle slope.

• Biology and Behaviour: Argali feed on grasses, sedges and some herbs and lichens. They
regularly drink from open springs and rivers. Argali are gregarious and live in groups from 2-
150 individuals. Gestation is about 160 days. Females give birth to one offspring (twins
occasional). Mothers separate from the herd to give birth and remain alone with her
offspring for several days. Females are sexually mature at 2 years. Males may not sexually
mature until 5 years. Maximum life-span is 10-13 years. Wolves are their primary natural
predator.
• Distribution Native: Afghanistan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal,
Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan.
• Marco Polo sheep is not a resident species of Pakistan. It moves across international borders
between four range countries. They may migrate into Kilk-Mintaka area of Pakistan for safety
during summers.
• Threats
• Over-hunting (for trophy)
• Poaching (for meat)
• Competition displacement. Livestock feed on the same forage as argali, dogs chase and
even kill Argalis.
• Possibly disease transmission by domestic livestock
• Habitat loss.
• Conservation action: Argali are included on Appendix I&II of CITES. A number of trophy
hunting areas have been established in China with argali as the focal species. These areas
have generally succeeded in reducing poaching. A research and conservation plan for argali
has been approved by the Governments of its areas of native distribution.
• Conservation measures are desperately required: Implementation of conservation
management plans improve enforcement of existing legislation that would help to conserve
argali. Enhance conservation management in protected areas where argali are found.
Develop public education programmes to raise awareness of the status and threats to the
species.

MACCACA
Meccaca mullata
STATUS:
o Least concern (IUCN red list category)
DISTRIBUTION: This specie as a whole is found throughout most of
o Southern Asia
o Eastern Afghanistan
o Bangladesh
o Bhutan
o Central and southern china
o Northern and central India
o Myanmar
o Nepal
o Northern Pakistan
o Thailand
o Vietnam

THREATS:
• Mainly unthreatened though its original habitat
• Confiscation for laboratory testing is a mostly
localized effort
• Capture and release of laboratory
• “problem monkey” from rural to urban
• Hunting
• Loss of forest in river valleys
CONSERVATION MEASURES: Conservation measures
proposed maccaca
o Bangladesh wildlife
o Indian wildlife
o Chinese wildlife protection
o Nepalese national park

• Rhesus monkey is brown in color
• Adult with red face, under parts are lighter brown
• Locomotion is quadrupedal
• Sexual maturity 4 to 6 years , gestation period include 164
days
• Group size varies from 10 to 50 individuals
• Body size male is larger than female
• Diurnal, terrestrial, partly arboreal
• Tolerant of human disturbance
• Diet is fruits, seeds, leaves, gums, resin, bark, small
invertebrates
• Mostly raid crops
• Inhabits mountainous regions of the moist temperate forest
and also found in dry temperate forest
• Also entertain people in the circus
• Mating season is variable usually March to June.

GREY LANGUR
Semnopithecus entellus
• Range in color from grey to dark brown to golden
• Body length varies from 40 to 68 cm female and 51 to 78 cm male
• Sexual maturity is from 46 to 47 months
• Gestation period varies from 168 to 200 days
• Average group size in 11 to 64 individuals
• Mostly diurnal, terrestrial and arboreal
• Spend up to 80% of the day on the ground, eat leaves, fruits, buds,
flowers, animal prey, bark and crops
• Mostly raid gardens and crops
• Prefer tropical, subtropical , pine alpine forests and urban area
• Confined to Siran valleys in Mansehara and kohistan districts, also
found in azad Kashmir, kaghan and Shogran.

PORCUPINE
Hystrix indicus
• According to IUCN red list the status is least concern
• Geographic range is from Southern half of Canada,
United States to Mexico whereas
• Native countries are Canada, United states and
Mexico
• No major threats to the species as whole
• Porcupines are often hunted or trapped
• Danger of extinct due to hunting
• Porcupine followed the species to reestablish its
populations

URIAL (Sheep)
Ovis orientalis vignei
• Urial is represnted by three subspecies in Pakistan
• Ovis vignei cycloearos (afghan urial)
• Ovis vignei punjabiensis (Punjab urial)
• Ovis vignei vignei (ladakh urial)
The face is generally grayish, the belly creamy white and the body
fur of a reddish grey color.
• Urial are gregarious and the biggest herds consist of associations
of female with their followers and immature males.
• Feeding activity is confined to the early morning and evening in
summer months.
• Their preferred food is grasses, they will in time of fodder scarcity,
browse the leaves of Acacia modesta and sometimes pink
mucilaginous fruits
• Gestation period ranges from 150 to 180 days.
• Single or occasional twin young per birth, sexually maturity is from
4 to 5 years and their life span is 10 to11 years

• Ovis vignei cycloearos occurs in Sindh, Baluchistan and
southern hilly region of KPK on varying altitudes up to
2750 m elevation in Baluchistan and Waziristan
associated with juniper forests and kalat makran semi
arid thorn scrub jungle.
• Ovis vignei punjabiensis (Punjab urial) occurs in the salt
range, kala chitta and Jhelum hills. Some area in kohat
and bannu district of KPK also supports their
population. The range of habitat varies from 500 to
1000m elevation in areas of semi arid scrub forests
• Ovis vignei (ladakh urial or sheep) are distributed in
chitral and northern areas on mountain up to 3000m
elevation living in association with Jupiter excels and
Quereus forests. The urial are strikingly beautiful
mountain dwelling animals with long slender legs and a
sleek body.

CHINKARA
Gazella bennettii
• According to IUCN red list category is least concern
• Range covers much of western and central India, Islamic republic
of Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran and Thar Desert of Pakistan
• Distribution in Pakistan has been greatly reduced by overhunting
and although still widespread
• Native countries include India, Iran and Islamic republic of Pakistan
• Overall this specie is threatened mainly by indiscriminate hunting
in Afghanistan, India, Iran, Pakistan
• Hunting for meat and to a lesser desire for trophies
• Habitat loss through overgrazing
• Conversion of habitat to agriculture and industrial development
• Occur more than 80 protected areas in India, 5 in Pakistan and 9
in Iran

INDUS BLIND DOLPHIN
Platanista gangetica minor
• Dolphin is endemic to the rivers of the lower Indus basin in
Pakistan but historically it occurred in the Indus mainstream
• In indus mainstream ranged from the Indus delta upstream to
the Himalayas foothills where rocky barriers or shallow water
prevented further upstream movement
• Has a long beak which thickens towards the tip, large teeth.
• Body is stocky with rounded belly Flippers are large and
paddle shaped, forehead is steep and poorly seeing eyes
• Tail flukes are broad in relation to body size

• Grey brown in color, sometimes with a pinkish belly measures
between 1.5 and 2.5m in length
• Maximum weight is 90kg
• They travel mostly as couples or solitary
• Navigation entirely by a sophisticated echolocation system
• The physical touch gives the dolphins important information about
their surroundings and helps them to find food
• Gestation period is 8 to 9 months
• Female give birth to single calf
• Sexual maturity is after 10 years
• Diet includes fish and crustaceans, only cetacean to inhabit he
Indian River. These dolphins favor silt ladin, turbid waters of the
Indus river system, at temperature 8°c and 33°c. World’s most
endangered mammal and has been listen in IUCN’s list of
threatened species. This specie inhabits the Indus river in Pakistan,
from kotri, Sindh to Jinnah, northern western Punjab

• Government of Sindh established sukkur and guddu barrage,
as Indus river dolphin rescue in 1974
• It has been accidently caught in fishing net but have also been
hunted for meat, oil and traditional medicines. Most recent
population survey was done in 2001 by WWF-Pakistan, wild
life Deptt Sindh, Punjab and KPK. Total 965 dolphins were
counted from Jinnah to kotri barrage
• The most significant threat to dolphins in the Indus has been
the construction of at least 25 dams and barrages that have
severally fragmented the population and reduced the amount
of available habitat.
• Upstream subpopulation may lose individual downstream If
dolphins move through barrage gates when they are open in
wet season.
• Pollution may be affecting the viability of the subspecies,
especially

NEIL GAI
Boselaphus tragocamelus
• The Nilgai is endemic to Pakistan and India. The tropical
thorn forest, uncultivated semi deserts of Pakistan,
mainly occurring around the Indian border in the north
eastern corner of the Punjab, and further south around
fort Abbas in cholistan. Small populations still exist in
changa manga (kasur) and Lal suhanra (Bahawalpur)
irrigated forest plantations. Some individuals are also
reported to stray in thraparkar areas in Sindh from
across the indo pak border.
• The name nilgai means blue cow. The male has blueish,
grey colour while females are yellowish brown in
colour.

• Nilgai is an antelope closely related to the eland of
Africa. It is a sturdy animal with stout legs and long
sloping horse like neck. Both sexes have a course
mane of long and narrow, almost horse like, nose
black and nabbed. There is a small pit gland below
the eye. The tail is long bearing tuft of coarse black
hair on the middle forepart of the neck. Both sexes
have conspicuous while stocking marks above the
fetlocks and hooves. The male has black cow like
horns, curving slightly backwards and outwards,
while the female has no horns. Adult males are
heavier than the females.

• They feed in early morning and late evening,
grazing grass as well as browsing on trees, also
favoring succulent fruits and leaves. Agricultural
crops are raided by the animals and sometimes
they become a problem. Breeding populations
exist only in change Manga and Lal Suhanra
plantations. Individuals along the pak India
border intermigrate. In view of the declining
population, they are not allowed to be hunted.
Sexual maturity is around 18 months, gestation
period of 247 days. Usually twins are born rarely
a single. Longevity in wild is 12 to15 years
whereas in captivity is 18 years. The young spend
most of the 10 days lying down and standing up
only to Suckle.

• There are no major threats to this widespread
species. There are some localized declines through
the use of agrichemicals and over collection for
educational use at universities. It is used for food
and medicine in central Peru. In Chile it is
threatened by hydroelectric dams, mining activities
and water pollution. No specific conservation
measures are required. In Chile it is suggested that
environment impact reports should be undertaken
in order to protect breeding areas. It occurs in many
protected areas in Argentina and Chile.

• According to IUCN status it is least concern.
Neil gay is found in Andean slope of Argentina,
China, Bolivia and Peru. It is a wild altitudinal
range of sea level. Natively it is found in
Argentina, Bolivia, Plurinational states Chile
and Peru. In the Andes the species is present
in scrubland and grassland. In the more
southern parts of its range it is found in
forested area. Breading takes place in
temporary pon altiplano lagoons and slow
flowing streams.

COMMON PEAFOWL
Pavo cristatus
• Male have fan shaped crest and head metallic blue.
Female have crest, crown and upper neck chestnut
brown. Peafowl are omnivorous eating grains and
green crops, insects, small reptiles, mammals,
berries, termite, grasshopper, ants and beetles. Live
in high fairly open trees in groups of large number.
Pea fowl are polygynous with familiar displays.
Clutch size ranges from 3 to 6 eggs. Incubation is by
female only lest for 28 to30 days. Mostly found in
Thraparkar district, bordering India, Sukhar, Small
areas including Azad Kashmir and Changa Manga.

WESTERN HORNED TRAGOPAN
Tragopan melanocephar)
• Western horned tragopan is medium sized pheasant.
• Mostly sexes are highly dimorphic Male has grey upper
parts and reddish facial skin. Females are more brownish
grey both above and below.
• Mostly this species is monogamous. Found in western
Himalayas, between 8000 to12000 from Hazara Eastward
to Garhwali (Ladakh). Largely restricted to area between
Jhelum and kunhar rivers of Hazara district, found in the
forest of kaghan valley, in Machiara National park (A.K)
and Pales valley in cholistan district

CHEER PHEASANT
Catteus wallichi
• Sexual dimorphism is slight found in the Cheer Pheasant.
Both sexes have long, narrow occipital crest. Top of head
and crest blackish are brow, edges are paler and tipped with
grey.
• Birds have many vocalizations including a very distinctive
crowing. Major food includes Roots, tubers, seeds, berries
and various insects. Pheasant is fairly gracious.
• Incubation is performed by female. Clutch size ranges from
9 to10 eggs. Formerly abundant throughout Siran Kaghan
valley, Marghalla hills, Swat and Kohistan districts. At
present restricted only to several small pockets of Kashmir.
Fifty to sixty pairs of birds in captivation are breeding and
kept at Dhodial in KPK.

MONAL PHEASANTS
Lophophorus impeyanus)
• Monal pheasants are large sized pheasant.
• Sexes are highly dimorphic
• Chief food includes terrestrial insects and tubers,
mushroom, strawberries and maggots
• Monals are Polygynous their clutch size ranges from 4
to5 eggs
• Incubation period lasts from 26 to 29 days
• Mostly occurs 8000 to12000 feet at Kaghan valley and
Azad Kashmir. Also found in Pallas valley and Ayubia
national park (KPK). The status of this beautiful
pheasant is still fairly secure in many areas.

KHALIJ PHEASANT
Lophura leucomelana
• Nine subspecies of khalij pheasants have been
recognized. There is extremely wide range of habitats
and elevation from nearly sea level to at least 11000
feet. It is most common between 3000 and 7000ft.
• Omnivorous mode of ingestion depending mostly on
seeds, fruits, termites, snakes, lizard, larvae and worms.
Foraging is apparently done in rather small groups.
• Incubation period vary with climate ranging from 20 to
22 days. Mostly found in KPK Siran and Kaghan valley,
Marghalla hills and Azad Kashmir. A good population is
found in Ayubia National Park.

KOKLASS PHEASANTS
Pucrasia macrolopha)
• Koklas Pheasants are medium sized pheasants. Sexes are
moderately dimorphic. Male have a well developed occipital
crests. Female have shorter crest. Two subspecies are found
in Pakistan.
• (i) Western koklas
• (ii) Kashmir koklas
• All kinds of grains, grass seeds, berries, buds, insects and
worms are taken as food. Mostly monogamous and their
territoriality is well developed. Clutch size ranges from 5 to 7
eggs. Incubation is performed by female. Found mostly 6000
to 11000 feet in Ayubia national park Formally koklas is found
in Afghanistan, swat, kohistan, Kashmir koklass, siran and
kaghan valley to Kashmir, overlap with swat, kohistan. Their
population is still favorable in Pakistan.

BLACK PARTIDGE
Melanoperdix niger
• Black partidge are Vulnerable according to IUCN status.
Black partridge is found mostly in Malaysia, Indonesia,
Brunei Darussalam and Pakistan. Its distribution and
population status are generally very poorly known
across its entire range. The overriding threats are
habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation as a result
of large scale commercial logging, which targets all
remaining stands of valuable timber, and the
widespread clearance for plantation of rubber and oil
palm. The full impact of the major fires of 1997-1998
has still to be fully assessed, but drought fires appear to
be increasing in frequency and severity on Sumatra and
Borneo. Hunting for food may pose an additional more
localized threat.

• Following conservation actions known to occur in at least six
protected areas:
• Taman Negara and krau wildlife reserve (Malaysia)
• Kinabalu national park (sabal)
• Gunung mulu national park (Sarawak)
• Tanjung putting national park
• Gunning palung nature reserve (Kalimantan)
• Berbak game reserve (Sumatra)
• It also occurs in reserve forest in peninsular Malaysia.
Proposed conservation actions are followings.
• Afford the species full protection under Indonesian and
Malaysian law.
• Conduct research into its ecology and habitat requirement.
• Identify and record its vocalizations to aid field surveys

TALOOR
Houbara bustard
• Houbara commonly known as Taloor Vulnerable
according to IUCN status. Geographically it is
distributed in a wide range across North Africa,
Middle East and western Asia. The native countries
of Houbara bustard as follows: Afghanistan,
Kazakhstan, Algeria, Kuwait, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan,
Azerbaijan, Libya, Bahrain, Mauritania, China,
Magnolia, Egypt, Morocco, India, Oman, Iran,
Pakistan, Iraq, Palestinian, Israel, Russia, Jordan,
Saudi Arabia, Spain & Yemen.

• All subspecies inhabit sandy and strong semi desert
and are specialized to existence in arid condition where
trees are absent and both shrub cover the herb layer
sparse (disperse). Scrub African and Arabian population
may be sedentary or partially migratory moving
relatively short distance to find recent plant growth.
• Population from Turkmenistan east to china is
migratory, and in winter huge numbers in Iran and less
abundantly other parts of the middle east.
• The principal threat to the North Africa, Middle Eastern
and western Asian population is from hunting by
falconers. Large numbers of Houbara bustard are
trapped, mainly in Iran and Pakistan, and shipped to
Arabia for use in training falcons to hunt. Habitat loss is
also a major problem.

BLACK BUCK
Antelope cervicapra
• Black buck is commonly known as Kala hiran, which exhibits
pronounced sexual dimorphism. The black bucks get their name from
the black pelage of males attained on maturity at three years of age.
Both sexes have white under parts including the insides of the legs and
lower chest.
• The horns are found only in males and appearing before their puberty.
Pronounced color change is twisted in a tight spiral with up to fine
turns. Gestation period ranges for 5 to 6 months. Their diet includes
leaves, buds, grasses, field, fruits and grain crops. Life span is 10 to12
years. Found in desert and semi desert areas of Pakistan, east of Indus
and cholistan Thar. Extensive hunting and habitat destruction have
restricted black buck to only small, isolated populations in their former
native habitat.
• Captive breeding to raise population is being carried out at Kirthar and
Lal Suhanra National park, Khairpur research centre, Khanpur, Ghotki
and Nawab shah Khar centre.

SIND WILD GOAT
Capra hircus aegagrus
• Sind wild goat body length ranges between 40 to 52 inches. Have strong
limbs terminating in broad hooves. Female and young male are yellow
brown to reddish grey in color
• Male are beautiful with long horn, white hair in old age. Male have short
beard while female black beards
• Gestation period ranges from 150 to 155 days. After 5 months one but
twins are common
• Sexual maturity is about 3 years. Gregarious from large herds. Older male
generally keep together
• Wild goat has wonderful sense of balance and can make standing leap
upwards
• Browse the leaves and bushes small shrubs and herbs
• They mostly live inhabit mountain and cliffs of 1000ft. Found in mountain
ranges of southern Baluchistan from Makran coastal range, at pasni to Sindh
kohistan and kinthan range in the east. Game reserve for wild goat is Hingol
range in central Makran. Biggest population in kirthar national park in
southern Sindh is carrying about 4000 organisms.

PUNJAB URIAL
STATUS:
• Susceptible to physical and emotional injury
• Vulnerable (IUCN red list category)
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION:
This specie occurs in
o Afghanistan
o India
o Kashmir
o Iran
o Kazakhstan
o Pakistan
o Tajikistan
o Uzbekistan

• THREATS:
• Habitat loss
• Agriculture
• Urbanization
• Hunting pressure
• Poaching and competition with livestock
• Roads and other human developments
• Competition with domestic animal
• Transmission of disease from domestic animals
CONSERVATION MEASURES:
o Halt all hunting
o By increasing the number of protected areas
o Intensive protection measures on sanctuaries
o Control livestock and eliminate reduce poaching

CHINKARA
STATUS:
• Least concern (IUCN red list category)
DISTRIBUTION: Range covers by chinkara much of
o western and central India
o Islamic Republic of Pakistan
o Afghanistan
o Iran
o Thar desert of Pakistan
NATIVE COUNTRIES:
 India
 Iran
 Islamic republic of Pakistan

THREATS:
 Indiscriminate hunting in
 Hunting for meat
 Lesser desire for trophies
 Habitat loss through overgrazing
 Conversion of habitat to Agriculture
 Industrial development is also a factor
Occurs more than 80 protected areas in India, 5 in
Pakistan and 9 in Iran
In western India chinkara are protected by village
for religious purposes
This specie is fully protected by law in India, Iran
and Pakistan

PORCUPINE
STATUS:
• Least concern (According to IUCN red list)
DISTRIBUTION:
The geographic range of porcupine is
o Southern half of Canada
o United states
o Mexico
NATIVE COUNTRIES
Canada
United states
Mexico

THREATS:
• Damage caused to property including
Trees
Crops
Cars tires
• Porcupines are often hunted or trapped
• Danger of extinct due to hunting
o North American porcupine habitat falls within
several protected areas within Canada the U.S
and Mexico which has allowed the species to
reestablish its populations.

INDUS DOLPHIN
STATUS:
• Endangered
DISTRIBUTION:
• Endemic to rivers of lower Indus basin
• Historically occurred in Indus mainstream
• Sutlej
• Beas
• Ravi
• Chenab
• Jhelum tributaries
• Ranged from Indus delta upstream to the Himalayas foothills
NATIVE COUNTRIES:
o Pakistan
o India

THREATS:
o In the Indus has been the construction of at least 25
dams and barrages that have severally fragmented the
population and reduced the amount of available
habitat
o Upstream subpopulation may lose individual
downstream If dolphins move through barrage gates
when they are open in wet season
o Pollution may be affecting the viability of the
subspecies
o Decline in flushing and dilution due to reduced flows.

BLACK PARTIDGE
STATUS: Vulnerable
DISTRIBUTION: found mostly in
• Malaysia
• Indonesia
• Brunei Darussalam
Distribution and population status are poorly known across its entire range.
THREATS:
o Habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation
o Large scale commercial logging, which targets all remaining stands
of valuable timber, and the widespread clearance for plantation of
rubber and oil palm.
o Full impact of the major fires of 1997-1998 has still to be fully
assessed, but drought fires appear to be increasing in frequency
and severity on Sumatra and Borneo.
o Hunting for food may pose an additional more localized threat.

It is known to occur in at least six protected areas
1. Taman Negara and krau wildlife reserve (Malaysia)
2. Kinabalu national park (sabal)
3. Gunung mulu national park (Sarawak)
4. Tanjung putting national park
5. Gunning palung nature reserve (Kalimantan)
6. Berbak game reserve (Sumatra)
It also occurs in paroh reserve forest in peninsular Malaysia.
PEOPOSED CONSERVATION ACTIONS:
• Full protection under Indonesian and Malaysian law.
• Conduct research in its ecology and habitat requirement.
• Identify and record its vocalizations to aid field surveys.

NEIL GAI
STATUS: Least concern
DISTRIBUTION RANGE:
Neil gai is found in Andean slope of Argentina, China, Bolivia and Peru.
NATIVES:
• Argentina
• Bolivia
• Plurinational states Chile
• Peru
 In the Andes the species is present in scrubland and grassland.
 In the more southern parts of its range it is found in forested area.

THREATS:
o No major threats
o Some localized declines through the use of
agrichemicals
o Over collection for educational use at universities
o Used for food and medicine in central Peru
o In Chile threatened by hydroelectric dams, mining
activities and water pollution
• No specific conservation measures are required.
• In Chile it is suggested that environment impact
reports should be undertaken in order to protect
breeding areas.

HOUBARA BUSTARD
STATUS: Vulnerable
DISTRIBUTION RANGE:
Geographically it is distributed in a wide range
across North Africa, Middle East and western
Asia. The native countries of Houbara bustard as
follows:
Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Algeria, Kuwait, Armenia,
Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan , Libya, Bahrain, Mauritania, China,
Magnolia, Egypt, Morocco, India, Oman, Iran, Pakistan,
Iraq, Palestinian, Israel, Russia, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Spain ,
Yemen

• All subspecies inhabit sandy and strong semi desert and are
specialized to existence in arid condition where trees are absent
and both shrub cover the herb layer sparse (disperse)
• Scrub African and Arabian population may be sedentary or partially
migratory moving relatively short distance to find recent plant
growth.
• Population from Turkmenistan east to china is migratory, and in
winter huge numbers in Iran and less abundantly other parts of the
middle east.
THREATS:
o The principal threat to the North Africa, Middle Eastern and
western Asian population is from hunting by falconers.
o Large numbers of Houbara bustard are trapped, mainly in Iran and
Pakistan, and shipped to Arabia for use in training falcons to hunt.
o Habitat loss is also a major problem.

BROWN BEAR
STATUS: Least concern
DISTRIBUTION RANGE:
The brown bear is the most widely distributed. It once ranged across a large
portion of North America throughout across North Africa. Presently it
occupies North America, Europe and much of northern Asia.
NATIVE COUNTRIES:
• Afghanistan
• Iran
• Canada
• Iraq
• China
• Pakistan
• Georgia
• Italy
• India
• France

THREATS:
• Agriculture
• Plantation forestry
• Highways, hydroelectric developments
• Habitat fragmentation is a serious threat
• Although as a whole this species is secure
• Human settlements erode the value of bear habitat
• Even large populations hunted for spot and or killed
• Isolated population are threatened due to their low numbers
o Conservation actions for brown bears vary greatly among
nation and regions within nations.
o Large population of this species are legally hunted and thus
managed as a game animal.
o Most small population is legally protected by national laws
and international agreements with varying degrees of
enforcement.
o All international trade in brown bear is restricted.

SNOW LEOPARDS
STATUS: Endangered
DISTRIBUTION:
Restricted to high mountains of
• Central Asia
• Atli
• Pamir
• Hindu Kush
• Karakorum
• Himalayan

THREATS:
• prey base depletion
• Illegal trade
• Conflict with human
• Lack of effective law enforcement
Leopard survival strategy assessed primary threats by region as follows
1. Himalayan region: Reduction of natural prey due to competition with
livestock, killing of snow leopard, military activity and human growth.
2. Karakorum and Hindu Kush: Habitat degradation and fragmentation
reduction of natural prey.
 Promotion of livestock grazing practices that reduce impacts on native
wild life
 Promotion of husbandry practices which reduce livestock vulnerability to
snow leopard predation
 Improvement of conservation education and awareness among a variety
of stakeholders from local communities to national governments to an
international audience.

COMMON LEOPARD
STATUS: Near threatened
DISTRIBUTION:
Occurs across most of
• sub Saharan Africa
• as remnant population in north Africa
• Arabian peninsula
• Turkey
• Asia
• Himalayan foothills
• India
• China.

THREATS:
• Habitat conversion
• Intense persecution
• Competition with human hunters for prey
• Poisoning of targeting carnivores either as a mean of
predator control or incidentally.
• Skin and canines are still widely traded domestically in
some central and west African countries where parts are
used and sold openly in villages and cities.
 Protected under national legislation throughout most of
their range.
 In indo Malaya and china, leopards need better protection
from illegal trade in skins and bones.
 In most countries leopards are protected by prohibiting all
hunting and trading of the species.

BLUE BULL (Boselaphus)
The Nilgai is endemic to Pakistan and India. The tropical thorn forest, uncultivated
semi deserts of Pakistan, mainly occurring around the Indian border in the north
eastern corner of the Punjab, and further south around fort Abbas in cholistan.
Small populations still exist in changa manga (kasur) and Lal suhanra (Bahawalpur)
irrigated forest plantations. Some individuals are also reported to stray in
thraparkar areas in Sindh from across the indo pak border.
The name nilgai means blue cow. The male has blueish, grey colour while females are
yellowish brown in colour. Nilgai is an antelope closely related to the eland of
Africa. It is a sturdy animal with stout legs and long sloping horse like neck. Both
sexes have a course mane of long and narrow, almost horse like, nose black and
nabbed. There is a small pit gland below the eye. The tail is long bearing tuft of
coarse black hair on the middle forepart of the neck. Both sexes have conspicuous
while stocking marks above the fetlocks and hooves. The male has black cow like
horns, curving slightly backwards and outwards, while the female has no horns.
Adult males are heavier than the females.
They feed in early morning and late evening, grazing grass as well as browsing on
trees, also favoring succulent fruits and leaves. Agricultural crops are raided by the
animals and sometimes they become a problem.

Breeding populations exist only in change manga and Lal
suhanra plantations. Individuals along the pak India
border intermigrates. In view of the declining population,
they are not allowed to be hunted.
Sexual maturity around 18 months
Gestation: 247 days. Usually twins are born rarely a single.
Longevity in wild is 12-15 years in captivity is 18 years.
The young spend most of the 10 days lying down and
standing up only to Suckle.
Phylum: Chordate
Class: Mammalian
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Bovidae
Suborder: Ruminantia

URIAL (Sheep)
Ovis vignei
Ovis vignei cycloearos (afghan urial)
Ovis vignei punjabiensis (Punjab urial)
Ovis vignei vignei (ladakh urial)
Urial is reprented by three subspecies in Pakistan. O.V cycloearos
occurs in Sindh, Baluchistan and southern hilly region of NWFP
on varying altitudes up to 2750 m elevation in Baluchistan and
Waziristan associated with juniper forests and kalat makran semi
arid thorn scrub jungle.
Ovis vignei punjabiensis (Punjab urial) occurs in the salt range, kala
chitta and Jhelum hills. Some area in kohat and bannu district of
NWFP also supports their population. The range of habitat varies
from 500 to 1000m elevation in areas of semi arid scrub forests.
Ovis vignei (ladakh urial or sheep) are distributed in chitral and
northern areas on mountain up to 3000m elevation living in
association with Jupiter excels and Quereus forests.

The urial are strikingly beautiful mountain dwelling
animals with long slender legs and a sleek body. The
face is generally grayish, the belly creamy white and
the body fur of a reddish grey colour.
Urial are gregarious and the biggest herds consist of
associations of female with their followers and
immature males. Feeding activity is confined to the
early morning and evening in summer months.
Their preferred food is grasses, they will in time of fodder
scarcity, browse the leaves of Acacia modesta and
sometimes pink mucilaginous fruits.
Gestation periods: 150 – 180 days (5-6 months)
Young per birth: single or occasional twin
Sexually maturity: 4-5 years
Life span: 10-11 years

RHESUS MONKEY
Macaca mulatta
(Bandar)
• Brown in colour
• Adult red face
• Under parts are lighter brown
Sexual maturity 4-6 years
Gestation period: 164 days, 5 and half months
• Group size varies from 10-50
• Body size male is larger than female
• Diurnal, terrestrial , partly arboreal
• Quiet tolerant of human disturbance

• Main diet is fruits, seeds, leaves, gums, resin, bark,
small invertebrates
• Raid crops
• Inhabits mountainous regions of the moist temperate
forest and also found in dry temperate forest.
• Mainly found in northern hill regions of murree, swat,
kaghan, azad Kashmir and chitral, malakand and
marghalla hills.
Class: Mammalian
Order: Primate
Family: Ceropithesidae
Mating season is variable usually March - June

GREY LANGUR
(Semnopithecus entellus)
• From grey to dark brown to golden
Body length: 40-68 cm female
51-78 cm male
Sexual maturity: 46-47 months
Gestation period: 168-200 days
• Average group size in 11-64
• Diurnal , terrestrial and arboreal

• They spend up to 80% of the day on the
ground.eat leaves, fruits, buds, flowers, animal
prey, bark and crops.
• Raid gardens and crops
• Prefer tropical, subtropical , pine alpine forests
and urban area
• Confined to siran valleys in mansehara and
kohistan districts, also found in azad Kashmir,
kaghan and shogran.
Class: Mammalia
Order: primates
Suborder: haplorhini
Family: cercopithicidae

CHINKARA (Gazella gazella)
Local name: hiran
In the cholistan and Thar Desert regions they have been hunted in the past 20
years, almost to the point of extermination by jeep mounted hunting
parties.
A very adaptable animal, it seems to be able to exist in extensive sand dune
areas down to sea level as well as in stony plateau and low hilly regions up
to 1500m elevation. Parts of the salt range around kalabagh as well as the
kala chitta hills. Cholistan and thraparkar deserts, mainly being having in
influx from the Indian habitats across the border. Also exists in the north
western regions of Baluchistan in stony valleys behind Hindu bagh and in
the zhob valley. Further south they occur in the sibi plains and south west
makran around turbat and pamgur. It is also found in Sindh dadu district.
They have been exterminated from dera ismail khan, dera ghazi khan, the
plains of mardan Peshawar, marghalla hills and thal desert.

The body is covered with long coarse reddish
grey hair having a blue grey Underwood in
winter coat. The belly and throat hair are
pure white, quite long and silky. The fur is
shorter showing less admixture of white hair
in the summer coat.
The legs are very long and slender with dark
brown tufts of hair on the knees (carpus) of
the forelegs. The hooves are black, sharply
pointed. The muzzle is fully covered with
whitish hair up to the nostrils which have
somewhat been elongated. The iris in the
comparatively large eyes is almost black.

Chinkara are semi nocturnal starting to forage mainly in cultivated crops
before sunset, and retreat by the morning deep in the desert. They are
mainly browsers utilizing the foliage and fruits of natural shrubs and trees,
and in drought periods, even the green twigs. Grasses from a major part of
their food during the monsoon. Tendency to keep to small groups of 2-3
individuals.
GESTATION:
5 to five and half months, single is born. Twins are reported occasionally. The
young follow their mothers after 2 to 3days. The female mature at the age
of 12 months. Longevity in wild is not known, in captivity they live for 12-
13 years. Females nearly always bearing horns comprising straight smooth
spikes. The average horn length of males is 10 -12 inch measured over the
curve. The young must be susceptible to predation from jackals and
wolves and possible caracal cats. The adults probably have no serious
enemies expect man.
Phylum: chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Sub order: Ruminantia
Family: Bovidae

PHEASANTS OF PAKISTAN
COMMON PEAFOWL
(Pavo cristatus) Moor
Male: fan shaped crest and head metallic blue
Female: crest, crown and upper neck chestnut brown.
Peafowl: omnivorous: grain and green crops to insects, small
reptiles, mammals, berries, termite, grasshopper, ants and
beetles. Roots in high fairly open trees in large number.
Polygynous, familiar displays.
Clutch size: 3-6 eggs. Incubation is by female only lest for 28-30
days.
Thraparkar district, bordering India and sukhar,
Small areas in azad Kashmir
Changa manga

Western horned tragopan
Tragopan melanocephar
Medium sized pheasant- sexes are highly dimorph
Male grey upper parts and reddish facial skin
Female are more brownish grey both above and below
Monogamous
Found in western Himalayas, between 8000-12000 from
hazara eastward to Garhwali- ladakh
Largely restricted to area between Jhelum and kunhar
rivers of hazara district – forest of kaghan valley, in
machiara national park (A.K)
Pales valley in cholistan district

CHEER PHEASANT
Catteus wallichi
Sexual dimorphism is slight
Both sexes have long, narrow occipital crest
Top of head and crest blackish-brow, edges paler and tipped with grey.
Birds have many vocalizations including a very distinctive crowing
Major food: Roots, tubers, seeds, berries, various insects
Fairly gracious
Incubation is performed by female
Clutch size…..9-10 eggs
Formerly abundant throughout siran kaghan valley, marghalla hills,
swat and kohistan districts.
At present restricted to several small pockets of Kashmir.
50-60 pairs of breeding captive birds are well kept at dhodial in
KPK

MONAL PHEASANTS
Lophophorus impeyanus
Large pheasants- sexes are highly dimorphic
Chief food, terrestrial insects and tubers
Mushroom, strawberries, maggots
Polygynous. Clutch size: 4-5 eggs. The incubation
period lasts some 26-29 days.
Occurs 8000-12000 ft (kaghan valley and azad
Kashmir)
Also found in Pallas valley and ayubia national park
The status of this beautiful pheasant is still fairly
secure in many areas.

KHALIJ PHEASANT
Lophura leucomelana
Nine subspecies of khalij pheasants recognized
Extremely wide range of habitats and elevation from
nearly sea level to at least 11000ft.
Most common between 3000 and 7000ft.
Omnivorous (seeds, fruits, termites, snakes, lizard, larvae
and worms)
Foraging is apparently done in rather small groups
Incubation period vary with climate 20-22 days
Found in NWFP siran and kaghan valley, marghalla hills,
azad Kashmir, a good population in ayubia national
park.

KOKLASS PHEASANTS
Pucrasia macrolopha
Medium sized pheasants
sexes are moderately dimorphic
Male have a well developed occipital crests
Female have shorter crest.
Two subspecies are found in Pakistan.
(i) Western koklass
(ii) Kashmir koklass
Food: All kinds of grains, grass seeds, berries, buds, insects, worms,
Monogamous, territoriality is well developed
Clutch size: 5-7 eggs. Incubation performed by formal western koklass,
Afghanistan, swat, kohistan, Kashmir koklass, siran and kaghan
valley to Kashmir, overlap with swat, kohistan
Found 6000-11000 ft (Ayubia national park)
Population is still favorable in Pakistan.

INDUS BLIND DOLPHIN
Forehead is steep
Poorly seeing eye
Maximum weight is 90kg.
Body is stocky with rounded belly
Flippers are large and paddle shaped
Tail flukes are broad in relation to body size
Has a long beak which thickens towards the tip, large teeth
Grey brown in colour, sometimes with a pinkish belly
Measures between 1.5 and 2.5m in length.
Travels mostly as couples or solitary
Navigation , entirely by a sophisticated echolocation system

The physical touch gives the dolphins important
information about their surroundings and
helps them find food.
Gestation period is 8-9 months. Single calf birth
Sexual maturity after 10 years
Diet:
Take fish and crustaceans
Only retacean to inhabit he india river
These dolphins favour silt ladin, turbid waters of
the Indus river system, at temperature 8c and
33c

World’s most endangered mammal and has been listen in
IUCN’s list of threatened species.
This specie inhabits the Indus river in Pakistan, from kotri
, Sindh to Jinnah , northern western Punjab.
Government of Sindh established sukkur and guddu
barrage, as Indus river dolphin rescue in 1974.
It has been accidently caught in fishing net but have also
been hunted for meat, oil and traditional medicines.
Most recent population survey was done in 2001 by
WWF- Pakistan , wild life Deptt Sindh, Punjab and
NWFP. 965 dolphins were counted from Jinnah to kotri
barrage.

SNOW LEOPARD
(uncia uncia)
Barfani chitra ikar valti
Snow leopard is not believed to be closely related to the ,
leopard or the other members of the pantherine group.
In appearance , the snow leopard is strikingly different
from the common leopard.
Although it has similar rosettes and broken spot
markings, they appear less well defined and are spaced
further apart.
The fur is long and woolly and helps protect the cat from
the extreme cold of its generally mountainous habit.
Body size can be upto 1.3m length and weight upto
around 70kg. have long tail (900cm).

Main prey are wild sheep such as bharal (blue sheep) and
argali, goats including markhor and ibex.
Other prey taken includes musk deer, marmots various
specie of hare and birds.
The litter size is usually between 1-4 cubs, and they are
born after a gestation period of approximately 98 days.
The snow leopard generally inhabits elevations berween
2000-4000m….alpine pasticre-5100m.
Found in higher mountains of karakoram and hindu kush
balochistan, citral, gilgit, upper swat valley.
Slopes of nanga parbatk khunjeab N.P and chitral gol N.P.

BLACK BUCK
Antilope cervicapra
Kala hiran
Which exhibits pronounced sexual dimorphism
The black cat get their name from the black pelage of
males attained on maturity at three years of age .
Both sexes have white under parts including the insides
of the legs and lower chest.
The horns are found only in males and appearing before
their pronounced colour change are twisted in a tight
spiral with up to fine turns.
Gestation period 5-6 months, young per birth.

Diet:
Leaves, buds , grasses, field, fruits, grain crops.
Life span is 10-12 years
Found in desert and semi desert areas of Pakistan and ,
east of Indus, cholistan thar
Today , extensive hunting and habitat destruction have
restricted black buck to only small, isolated populations
in their former native habitat.
Captive population:
Kirther and lal suhanra N park.
Mir of khairpurs mehrano research
Khanpur, ghotki
New jator, nawab shah
Khar centre

BROWN BEAR
Ursus arctos
(bhura bhalo)
Large animals
Dark in colour.
Long guard hair over the shoulder
Characterized by a distinctive humps on shoulders.
Long claws on the front paws.
Sexual maturity: 4.5 to 7 years of age.
Litter size ranges from one to four but two are common.
Cubs remain with their mothers for at least two and half years. So female breed
every three years.
Diet:
Grasses, bulbs, root, insects, ants, fish, small mammals such as Marco polo sheep,
ibex bharel.
Habit mountain forest, large river
Very rare, kalanders, for dancing in big cities.
Remote northern area of Pakistan found in baltistan, hunza, gilgit, slopes of nanga
parbat, khunjrab N.P and deosac pleatue near Skardu 25-27 individuals.

BLACK BEAR
Kala reech, kala bhalu
Order carnivores
Family cersidae
Mediun size black colored bear
Distinct white patch on the chest and white on the chin.
Baluchiistan black bear
Himalayan black bear
Body length 4-6 feet
Sexual maturity 3-4 years
Mainly nocturnal, sleeping in trees or caves during day.
Baluchistan bear is usually sighted in rainy season from August to November.
Diet:
Fruits, bee , insects, invertebrates small vertebrates.
Occasionally, kicked domestic livestock
Live hill and mountainous ranges.
Humalayan bear………….azad Kashmir, kaghan, swat, kohistan, southern chitral, chitral gol
N.P, ayubia N.P
Balochistan bear……..takht-e-sulaiman
Toba kakar
Alsofound in ziarat, kalot, khuzdar,
Confine to arid sub hopical thorn forest decreased due to kalandars.

SIND WILD GOAT
Capra hircus aegagrus
Body length 52 inches, 4.4 feet
Have strong limbs terminating in broad hooves.
Female and young male….yellow brown to reddish grey
Male are beautiful with long horn
White hair in old age
Male have short beard
Female black beards
Gestation period: 150-155 days, 5 months
One but twins are common.
Sexual maturity is about 3 years.

Gregarious from large herds. Older male generally keep together
Wild goat wonderful , sense of balance and can make standing leap upwards.
Food:
Browse the leaves and bushes small shrubs and herbs.
Live at sea level. Live remoter cliffs around ormara, inhabit mountain 1000ft
Found in mountain ranges of southern balochistan from mekran coastal
range, at pasni to Sindh kohistan and kinthan range in the east.
Also found lalat
Game reserve for wild goat
Hingol range in central mekran
Biggest population in kirthan national park in southern Sindh, about 4000
organisms.
Himalayan or Siberian ibex
Capra ibex sibirica………..11000-16000ft
Lamaljer ramge
Khunjob national park 2000cm
Clulas
Humza
Northern chitral.

• IUCN Red list Threat Status: Critically Endangered
• Description: It is a tall, long legged bird. Large, brown
and white bustard with black crown and wing markings.
There is a black crown on the forehead and the upper
body is brown. Wings are marked with black, brown and
grey. The sexes are similar in appearance. Males have
larger black crown long hind crown feathers. Black band
across the breast. Body length is 122 cm. Females are
smaller with greyer neck. Typically no or incomplete
breast band, regarding voice, booming moans during
display and barking or bellowing sounds when alarmed.
General coloration varies between each animal from a
light yellow to a reddish-brown to a dark grey brown.
• Habitat: Arid, Semi-arid grasslands with scattered short
scrub, bushes and low intensity cultivation in flat or
gently undulating terrain. Birds congregate in traditional
grassland patches.

• Biology and Behaviour: Nests are situated in the open ground and males take no part
in incubation or care of the developing young. Only a single egg is usually laid. Feed on a
wide range of items depending on their seasonal availability. Grasshoppers and beetles are
the preferred diet. Alternatively they feed on grass seeds, berries, rodents and reptiles.
Distribution Native: India, Pakistan
• Threats:
• High intensity Poaching
• Widespread hunting for sport and food
• Vehicular access to remote areas
• Egg-collecting was rampant in many states of India
• Habitat loss and degradation
• Lack of community support
• This bustard is included in Appendix I of CITES
• In India it is legally protected and there are severe penalties for killing an individual
• Establishment of Protected areas specifically for the species
• Rehabilitation of grasslands has benefited the species in some areas.
• Removal of invasive weed species
• Conducting a school awareness programme and large-scale community awareness
programme.
• Publicity materials and media stories have been produced to raise awareness of the species
in India
• Consumptive human use should not be permitted during breeding months
• To formulate landscape conservation strategies in priority areas for accommodating the
species’s non-breeding needs.
• Evidence-based habitat management interventions should be planned and implemented

• IUCN Red list Threat Status: Endangered.
• Range lifespan: In wild 10 years whereas, in captivity 25 years. Life
style largely depending on the extent to food supply. They are
sedentary Part migratory or fully migratory.
• Range Distribution: Wide range across the Palearctic region from
Eastern Europe to western China.
• Possibly extinct: Germany
• Regionally extinct: Turkmenistan
• Description: There is Great variation in color and pattern exists.
Fairly uniform chocolate brown colour to a pale sandy colour with
brown bars or streaks. Some are almost pure white individuals
which are particularly prized by Arab falconers. Saker females are
markedly larger than males. Females typically Weigh 970-1300g,
length of 55cm. Wingspan of 120-130 cm. Males usually have
weigh from 730-990g, 45 cm long, wingspan of 100-110 cm. Sharp,
curved talons used primarily for grasping prey. Use their powerful,
hooked beak to sever the prey’s vertebral column. It is a large,
powerful bird of prey with an exceptionally broad wingspan for its
size.

• Biology and Behaviour: This bird is physically adapted to hunting close to
the ground in open terrain, combining rapid acceleration with high
maneuverability. Specializing on medium sized diurnal terrestrial rodents
(especially ground squirrels.
• Semi-desert, Steppes: In some areas, particularly near water and even in
urban environments. This species usually builds no nest of its own. Uses an
old stick nest in a tree which was previously used by other birds. Clutch size
varies from three to five, exceptionally two to six. The species usually occurs
singly or in pairs
• Threats: This species suffered mainly from electrocution on power lines.
Decreased prey availability due to the loss and degradation of steppes. Dry
grasslands through agricultural intensification. Plantation establishment and
declines in sheep pastoralism. Off take for falconry has also been a serious
problem (especially trapping of breeding birds). Pesticide use leading to
secondary poisoning.
• Conservation action: Included in Appendix II of CITES. Controls of illegal
trade are implemented in various countries in western range. Captive
breeding has been developed strongly in some countries, including U.A.E.,
as a means of substituting farmed for wild-caught birds. Clinics have also
been set up to improve the longevity and availability of wild-caught birds in
various Gulf States. New research programmes in many parts of the range
have begun to establish baseline data on distribution, population, ecology
and threats. Maintenance or improving systems of wardening and customs
control including DNA sampling to check provenance of traded birds.

Woolly Flying Squirrel
Eupetaurus cinereus

• IUCN Red list Threat Status: Endangered
• Description: The animal has fur that is long and thick,
with a grizzled pattern that gives the appearance of a
woolly pelage. The woolly flying squirrel is slightly
larger in body size. Smaller bushy tail than the other
species inhabiting Pakistan. The dorsal fur is brownish
grey having a scattering of pale buff-tipped hairs. Ears
are slightly smaller. The cheek teeth are unique as they
are both flat-crowned and high crowned- hypsodont. It
feeds on very abrasive plant material, including pine
needles.

• Habitat and Ecology: It is currently known to live only in
caves and crevices on steep cliffs in the dry conifer forest
zone of northern Pakistan. This animal is confined in
Kashmir, Pakistan. It is strictly nocturnal highly dependent
upon pine needles in its diet.
• Distribution: Native: Pakistan
• Threats:
• Habitat loss due to large-scale clear-cutting of forests
• Expansion of agriculture
• Small-scale logging
• Infrastructure development
• Human settlements

Indian Pangolin
Manis crassicaudata

• English Name: Scaly Ant eater
• Scientific Name: Manis crassicaudata
• IUCN Red list Threat Status: Endangered
• Pangolins are considered to be the most traded wild animal
in the world
• Description: The Indian Pangolin has relatively tiny head,
Hump-backed body. Thick tapering tail almost equal in
length to its body. They are completely covered with scales.
Made of keratin which is getting harden as the creatures
get older. The scales bear fine longitudinal striation on their
surface. There is hardly any external ear. The muzzle tapers
to a narrow, down curving snout. The hind legs are stout
and rather columnar with five blunt pinkish white toe nails.

Habitat and Ecology: It occurs in various types of tropical forests as well as open land, grasslands. Degraded
habitat including in close proximity to villages. The species is thought to adapt well to modified habitats.
Provided its ant and termite prey remains abundant. The animal is Solitary, nocturnal, burrow dwelling.
During mating season adult males and females share the same burrow. Females usually give birth to one
young. Gestation period of 165 days. Longevity in wild is unknown. In captivity it has been recorded up
to 13 years 2 months. This species is arboreal in some habitats and is a good climber using its prehensile
tail and claws to climb trees
Distribution:
Native:
• India, Nepal, Pakistan
• Mangla,Potohar and Salt Range across Indus south to near Karachi and northward in the mountainous
areas upto Kallat
• Sri Lanka
• Bangladesh
Threats: Primarily threatened by Hunting, Poaching (for meat and scales), Illegal international trade. Up to
100,000 pangolins are estimated to be hunted and sold every year its meat is consumed as a source of
protein locally. The meat is considered a delicacy in China, Vietnam and other parts of south-east Asia.
Scales are used in whole or powdered form in the preparation of traditional medicines. An increase in
the agrarian economy is a posing threat. The use of pesticides comprises additional threats to this
species. Occasionally killed out of fear for having an odd shape.
Conservation Actions: The species is included in CITES Appendix II. It is protected in
• Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, China
• It is widely distributed and present in a number of protected areas. There is a need for further research
into current population levels, ecology, biology and natural history of this species throughout its known
range to prevent poaching.

Indian Spotted Eagle
Clanga hastate

• Scientific Name: Clanga hastate
• IUCN Red list Threat Status: Vulnerable
• Description: A medium-sized eagle about 60cm in length
and has a wingspan of 150cm with a short tail. Adults are
essentially brown. The legs appear longer and thinner less
thickly feathered. This species has a lighter coloration
overall compared to its relatives with a darker iris that
makes the eyes appear darker than the plumage. The
young birds are giving a spotted appearance glossy brown.
Tips of the head and neck feathers being creamy. The upper
tail coverts are light brown with white giving a barred
appearance. The median coverts have large creamy spots.
After about eighteen months the bird moults and becomes
a darker shade and has less spots.

• Distribution:
• Native:
• Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Cambodia, India,
Myanmar
• Vagrant
• Pakistan
• Habitat and Ecology: This species is a powerful
predator that seizes its prey from the ground. It preys
on Frogs, birds and mostly mammalian. It is a tree-
nesting species. It favors open habitats with low
intensity agriculture, wetlands, open forest and forest
clearings year round. Its display flight includes Switch
backing, wing clapping and full loops. Courtship has
been observed from January, with lying in April.
• Threats: Primarily threatened by Conversion and
disturbance of forested habitats within its range.

• Synonyms: Indian Griffon, Long billed Griffon, Long-billed
Vulture, Painted Vulture
• IUCN Red list Threat Status: Critically Endangered
• Description: Medium sized bulky animal. Its body and cover
feathers are pale, while quills are darker. Its wings are
broad and its tail feathers short. Its head and neck are
almost bald. Its bill is pale yellow and long. Usually 80-
103 cm long. Wing span of 1.96-2.38m, weighs 5.5-6.3 kg,
large white neck ruff.
• Habitat and Ecology: It is found in cities, towns and villages
near cultivated areas and in open and wooded areas. This
species feeds almost entirely on carrion. It nests almost
exclusively in colonies on cliffs and ruins. Where cliffs are
absent it has been reported nesting in trees. Vultures also
play a key role in the wider landscape as providers of
ecosystem services.

• Distribution:
• Native: Pakistan and India
• Vagrant: Nepal
• Threats: These vultures were being found dead and dying in Pakistan and
throughout India. The anti inflammatory drug diclofenac has been identified as the
cause of mortality. Vultures are exposed to diclofenac and other NSAIDs through
scavenging on the carcasses of largely cattle and buffalo that have been treated
with the drugs prior to death and left for scavengers to consume. Hence likely
contributory factors are
• Poisoning
• Pesticide use
• Conversion and disturbance of forested habitats within its range.
• Included in Appendix II of CITES
• SAVE (Saving Asia’s Vultures from Extinction) has developed the concept of Vulture
Safe Zones
• Areas (with a minimum of 100 km radius, equating to 30,000 km2) around
important vulture breeding colonies,
• Education and advocacy efforts are focused on eliminating the use of diclofenac
and other vulture-toxic drugs
• Satellite tagging has been employed on Asian Gyps vultures to improve
understanding of their movements and range use.
• To aid the development of conservation strategies for the genus

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