M Zaheer Khan, Afsheen Zehra, Syed Ali Ghalib, Saima Siddiqui and Babar Hussain
Keywords: Unique park, Hingol River, vertebrate biodiversity, green turtle, key mammalian species.
Abstract: Pakistan has recognized three categories of protected areas: National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, and Game Reserves. Currently Pakistan has 22 National Parks of which Hingol National Park is the most unique and important because it consists of six ecosystems including Arabian Sea, Rugged Mountains, Desert, River, Estuary, and open plains. The park has rich biodiversity and diversified fauna of terrestrial, marine, and freshwater ecosystems. The park has many important mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and amphibian species, including Ibex (Capra aegagrus), Urial (Ovis vignei), Chinkara (Gazella bennettii), Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanus crispus), Spotted-billed Pelican (Pelecanus philippinus), Houbara Bustard (Chlamydotis undulat), Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca), Sooty Falcon (Falco concolor), Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus), fish Mahsheer (Tor putitora), Marsh Crocodile (Crocodylus palustris), Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas), Skittering frog (Rana cyanophlyctis) etc. During the study 2005 to 2009, 165 bird species (75 resident and 90 migratory species), and 16 mammalian species were recorded. While Ibex, Urial and Chinkara are the key species of the park. Jungle Cat (Felis chaus), Desert Cat (Felis libyca), Desert Fox (Vulpes vulpes), Wolf (Canis lupus), and Asiatic Jackal (Canis aureus) have been observed. Due to aesthetic reason, and venues like mountains, wetlands, river, estuary, sea beach, mud volcano and sand dunes, the park has a potential to be developed as Eco-tourist Park.
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