Shaista Aslam, Ghazala Yasmeen, Ubaid Ullah, Sehrish Khan, Uzma Manzoor, Tahira Lateef, Ponum Nasir, Laraiba Noor and Syed Ali Ghalib
Keywords: Dalmatian pelican, manmade, urban wetland, migratory birds, gulshan-e-iqbal town.
Abstract: Wetlands are most productive ecosystems in the world. While the urban wetlands ecosystem has significantly suffered as a result of the impact of urbanization. Urban wetlands are important for minimizing the adverse effects of heat wave and maintaining the biological ecosystem. In Karachi city Gulshan-e-Iqbal Town, Safari Park wetland and wetland near Sindbad Park provide good aquatic habitat for migratory birds and breeding ground for resident birds. Present study was conducted during November 2017 to April 2018 and inventory of vertebrate fauna in Safari park wetland is presented. As many as 4 species of fishes, 2 species of amphibians, 5 species of reptiles, 36 species of birds, and 2 species of mammals were recorded. While migratory birds including Great cormorant, Great white pelican and Dalmatian pelican were also recorded in which Dalmatian pelican (Pelecanus crispus) is Near threatened globally. In January 2018 we recorded 136 migratory water birds, which is the highest population during the migratory season at Safari Park wetland. No adverse effects of water pollution were found on the aquatic biodiversity of wetland of Safari Park.
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