Wildlife Species

Important Wildlife Species of Pakistan

The species which are not present or became extinct in our country or those which are likely to be endangered in the wild and the most important is that the species which are most rare species considered as most important species of a country.

Following list have been taken from the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List. It includes all mammals which occur in Pakistan and are very rare. 45 species are internationally threatened animals occurring in Pakistan. Out of these 4 are critically endangered, 12 are endangered and 29 vulnerable. Out of these 45 species, 18 are mammals, 17 birds 9 reptiles and one fish. Most of these are found in Northern areas.

Following important wildlife species of Pakistan is given below;

Asian White-backed Vulture


The species was there in a huge number, in Pakistan and other southern parts of Asia but until the nineties. White-ramped Vulture population has suffered decline swiftly. This is unbelievably up to 99.9% in the 15 year span from 1992 to 2007. In 1986 the species was illustrated as probably the most plentiful large bird of prey on the planet.

Asiatic Black Bear/Baluchistan Black Bear

Unfortunately there are hardly any good stories associated with this sub species of the Asiatic bear in Pakistan. It used to be widely distributed in the majority of Baluchistan but now it is listed as critically endangered in Pakistan and extinct in most of the natural habitat locally. These bears have adapted well over centuries and are covered in an uncommonly thin coat as compared to the Asian black bear.

Cheetah

In all of the Asia, Cheetah is now extinct from nearly all of its territory. Its significant territory used to broaden from the shores of the Mediterranean and the Arabian Peninsula, north to the northern shores of the Caspian and Aral Seas, and west through Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan into central India.

Indus River Dolphin

The Indus River dolphin is one of the world's rarest mammals that is critically endangered with an estimate of 1000 living in the wild. The Indus River Dolphin has a long beak and a stocky body. It has a low triangular hump on its back in place of a 'true' dorsal fin. It is gray-brown in color, sometimes with a pinkish belly. The eyes are extremely small, resembling pinhole openings slightly above the mouth.

Leopard


The common leopard is listed as protected and illegal to hunt in all provincial laws of Pakistan. This wild cat is naturally associated with the humid temperate jungles that include both rain and coniferous jungles of the northern areas. Four subspecies of this big cat have been identified in the mammals’ directory of Pakistan, historically. On the other hand, it is hard to distinguish among the sub species.

Markhor

The National Animal of Pakistan and only a few thousands survive in the wild now. The reasons Markhor faces a very high risk of extinction in the near future include intensive hunting (for trophies, meat and the Asian medicine market), disturbance and loss of habitat due to expanded human settlement, and competition from domestic livestock. The markhor is a member of the goat family which may weigh up to 110 kg.

Tiger


Tiger got extinct due to non seriousness of Pakistan in 1906 but few may have been accounted in 1933. Tigers lived over a large area of Sindh, lower NWFP and Punjab. Yes, that’s true!

Reference:

                          The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species