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FIRST REPORT ON THE BIODIVERSITY OF KHUNJERAB NATIONAL PARK, PAKISTAN

RAHMATULLAH QURESHI^1,*, WASEEM AHMAD KHAN², G.R. BHATTI³, BABAR KHAN⁴, SHAHID IQBAL⁴, MOHAMMAD SHAFIQ AHMAD⁵, MOHAMMAD ABID⁵ AND ATIF YAQUB⁶

Abstract: Biodiversity of Khunjerab National Park (KNP) was carried out during May and June, 2006 to establish baseline information about existing plant wealth and wildlife including flora, reptiles, birds and mammals in order to make some vantage points for future monitoring of key wildlife species. Using different direct and indirect investigation techniques, 14 different valleys and Nullahs of KNP were surveyed and observations on various habitats were recorded. Four types of vegetation zones were identified including Dry Alpine Scrub, Moist Alpine Pastures, Dry Alpine Plateau Pastures and Sub Alpine Scrub and Birch Forests. So far, 62 plant species belonging to 45 genera and 25 families were identified. Of them, 4 grasses and one species of Liliaceae were determined. The most important family that contributed in floristic composition of this project area was Primulaceae (11.29%), followed by Asteraceae (9.68%), Boraginaceae (6.45%), Brassicacea (6.45%), Poaceae (6.45%) and Rosaceae (6.45%); whereas, rest of the families had fewer species. The animal diversity includes two reptilian, 46 avian and 25 mammalian species. In addition, 16 faunal species (two reptilian, 13 avian and one mammalian) were recorded for the first time from the study area. For observing wildlife and future studies in KNP, 18 vantage points were marked in different valleys and Nullahs and threats to different wildlife species were studied as poisoning the carnivores, illegal hunting, over grazing and food competitions through domesticated species.       

¹Department of Botany, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Murree Road, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

² Pakistan Wildlife Foundation, 29-B, Al-Baber Centre, F-8 Markaz, Islamabad.

³Centre for Biodiversity & Conservation, Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur, (Mir’s), Sindh, Pakistan.

⁴WWF-Pakistan, Islamabad, Pakistan.

⁵Department of Zoology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.

⁶Department of Zoology, GC University, Lahore.