Syed Ali Ghalib, Muhammad Zaheer Khan, Ubaid Ullah, Roohi Kanwal, Afsheen Zehra, Saima Siddiqui, Darakhshan Abbas, Ghazala Yasmeen, Babar Hussain and Abdur Razzaq Khan
Keywords: Wildlife of Balochistan, protected areas of Balochistan, ecotourism sites, threatened wildlife species, key species
Abstract: Field surveys were undertaken from 2015 to 2019 in major ecological zones of the Balochistan province to collect data on the distribution and status of its wildlife. Based on five years field observations, 92 species of mammals, 373 species of birds, 120 species of reptiles and seven species of amphibians were documented. The present study gives an update list of Wildlife Protected Areas of the Province, the list of Threatened/Near-threatened species, the important wildlife hotspots, important ecotourism sites and key/peculiar of wildlife species. In regard to the Threatened/Naer-threatened species of wildlife, among mammals four species are Endangered (EN), eight species are Vulnerable (VU) and three species are Near-threatened (NT). Among birds, two species are Critically Endangered (CR), four species are EN, three species are Vulnerable and 15 species are Near-threatened. Among reptiles, one species is Critically Endangered, one species is Endangered and six species are Vulnerable. The threats along with Protected Areas Management issues have also been identified and Priority Actions for the conservation and management of wildlife and its habitats have been suggested. The achievements made so far in the Province have been highlighted for awareness of the scientific community and for appreciating the commendable efforts in the Province made so far.
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