Similar to 65.gilgit baltistan wild life A Presentation ByMr. Allah dad KhanVisiting Professor the University of Agriculture Peshawar allahdad52@gmail.com
Similar to 65.gilgit baltistan wild life A Presentation ByMr. Allah dad KhanVisiting Professor the University of Agriculture Peshawar allahdad52@gmail.com (20)
2. • Due to suitable hilly and
climatic conditions, the
mountainous regions of
Himalayas are a good
habitat for these animals.
They are found in
precipitous mountain
sides. In early summer
when new growth of
grasses occurs the
Himalayan Markhor can
be seen on the steep
slopes.
5. Snow leopard (Uncia uncia)
• is a beautiful Palaearctic cat,
which blends well in rocky terrain
in the mountains of Gilgit-
Baltistan Pakistan. In summer
months it ascends to the alpine
zone, returning in winter to the
oak forest to forage for food,
which consists mainly of grass
eating animals. Its fur is very soft
and luxuriant and thick in winter.
It is gray-brown in summer, paling
in winter with pure white under
parts. Its tail has long fur. It is
vulnerable to illegal hunters
mainly because of its valuable
pelt. Occasionally it is poisoned
by nomadic shepherds to prevent
goat losse
6. Himalayan lynx (Felis lynx isabellina)
• . occurs in alpine slopes in
the extreme of Northern
Areas. It is a powerful and
expert climber, generally
nocturnal but
occasionally hunting by
day in remote areas. Its
usual food is marmot,
pika, hare, snow cock and
other birds, but can also
overpower large animals
like sheep, goat and even
markhor.
7. Wolf (Canis lupis
• ) is found throughout the
Northern Areas. It hunts
domestic livestock, wild
ungulates (ibex, markhor, blue
sheep etc.) and other small
rodents. Himalayan black bear
(Selenarctos thibetanus)
occurs in pockets in Iran and
Balochistan and is widespread
in the Himalayas from China to
Russia. It lives in caves in the
remote, mountains areas and
descends at night to feed,
mainly on small insects, but it
is also eats crops, particularly
ripe maize.
8. Brown bear (Ursus arctos)
• is a holarctic species found
in alpine and sub alpine
scrub zones in Chitral, in
Deosai in the Gilgit-
Baltistan, around the slopes
of Nanga Parbat and in
Astore, Swat and Indus
Kohistan. It is also found in
Pamir and the Hindu Kush.
The brown bear eats insets,
voles and succulent shoots.
It hibernates during winter
from the end of October
until the following spring
12. Musk deer (Moschus moshiferus)
• is another palaearctic species
found in the northern
mountains, including Hazara,
Kashmir and the Himalayan
ranges eastwards to Nepal and
Sikkim. Its usual habitat is
birch scrub and bushy upland
regions. At times it moves with
nomadic goats. Although
vulnerable to snow leopard
and wolf attacks, its main
enemy is human being who
kills it for its valuable musk
pod, which is used to make
scent and other cosmetics
13. Siberian or Himalayan ibex (Capra
ibex)
• is a palaearctic species found
in the high mountains of
Chitral, the Northern Areas,
Hazara, Indus Kohistan and
possibly in the Safad Koh
mountains. This ibex is also
distributed in Afghanistan, the
Pamir the Altai and the Shah
mountains. In Pakistan it stays
above 6700 meters, but during
the rut season in December it
may descend to below 2000
meters. It mainly browses, but
also grazes when lush grass is
available.
14. Urial, Shapu (Ovis orientalis)
• is found in the northern
mountains, the western ranges,
the Salt Range, the Kalachitta
Range and Balochistan. It is a
close relative of the wild sheep
found in North America, Europe
and central and northern Asia. It
is generally found in arid country
where tree growth is sparse. In
the Salt Range it inhabits areas of
dense acacia scrub. Male herds
segregate from females, mixing
only to breed. In the rut season
males fight to express dominance
over each other. In Gilgit-Baltistan
it is found in Askloi valley (Shiger),
Kharpocho (skardu), Ghursey
(Khaplu) and Astore valley.
15. Marco Polo sheep (Ovis amon polii)
• is found in a very small area
(less than 26 hectares) of
high rolling terrain in
extreme northern Hunza in
the Kilik and Khunjerab
passes into which it
migrates from China during
winter. Its main population
is found in the greater
Pamir mountains, in
Wakhan, Afghanistan, in
Tajikistan and China. It
shares its habitat with the
snow leopard and the wolf,
and is hunted by both
17. Alpine or Altai weasel (Mustela altaica)
• is found in the palaearctic
zone of Pakistan, mainly in
Baltistan and on the slopes of
Nanga Parbat. It is also found
in Kaghan valley above 3200
meters. Like the stoat, it feeds
on pikas, hamsters and other
rodents, birds and insects.
Common otter (Lutra lutra)
lives in the cold mountain
rivers and streams of northern
Pakistan. It is an agile
swimmer, diving for fish. It has
a distinctive bark, and when
alarmed lets a loud cry.
18. Marmot (Marmota caudata and
Marmota bobock)
• are two palaearctic
species found in the
northern mountains,
including Hazara district,
near the high glaciers at
3200 to 4850 meters.
They live in burrows
amongst rocks, collecting
large quantities of food to
last them through the
snowy month
19. Bat (Isabelline serotine eptesicus
isabellinus)
• is found in Gilgit. They hibernate in winter.
Out of seven Pipistrelle species of bats found
in Pakistan two are palaearctic. These are the
common pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus)
found in Gilgit-Baltistan. The common
pipistrelle has been known to fly with open
mouth emitting ultrasonic notes. Unlike
other bats it is mainly active around dawn
and dusk. Hemprich's long -eared bat
(Otonycteris hemprichi) is found in Gilgit. It
has conspicuous long eared and flies very
low to the ground hunting for insects. Grey
long eared bat (Plecotus austriacus) is a
palaearctic bat found in the Gilgit-Baltistan
and the Kaghan valley. It roosts with its ears
tucked under its forelegs in the roofs of
houses, tunnels and other dark areas. It is
capable of flying very slowly and can hover,
enabling it to pick insects from the surface of
leaves.
20. The tube-nosed bat (Murina huttoni)
• is a palaearctic species and has
been recorded in Nalter in the
Northern Areas and in the
Murree hills. It roosts mainly in
tree cavities. Royals high
mountain vole (Alticola roylei) is
found in the Gilgit-Baltistan, the
Kaghan valley, Swat and the Safed
Koh. It is nocturnal and partly
diurnal. It lives in burrows in
stony soil from about 8,000 ft up
to the permanent snow line. It
collects and stores food for
winter consumption. It is eaten
by stoats, weasels, kestrels and
even the brown bear
21. Chinese birch mouse (Scista concolor)
• is found in Gilgit-Baltistan and
northern parts of the Kaghan
valley up to a height of 13,200 ft
and hibernates in winter. It has a
semi prehensile tail. Its teeth are
strong enabling it to rack seeds,
but also feeds on insects.
Migratory hamsters (Cricetulus
migratorius) are found in
Northern Areas, the western
mountains and northern
Balochistan above 4,400 ft. It has
well developed cheek pouches,
which it fills with food for
chewing later on or for storing. It
is aggressive, especially when
cornered, and will attack jerboas
and frogs
22. Chinese birch mouse (Scista concolor)
• is found in Gilgit-Baltistan and
northern parts of the Kaghan
valley up to a height of 13,200 ft
and hibernates in winter. It has a
semi prehensile tail. Its teeth are
strong enabling it to rack seeds,
but also feeds on insects.
Migratory hamsters (Cricetulus
migratorius) are found in
Northern Areas, the western
mountains and northern
Balochistan above 4,400 ft. It has
well developed cheek pouches,
which it fills with food for
chewing later on or for storing. It
is aggressive, especially when
cornered, and will attack jerboas
and frogs