PESHAWAR, Sep 30 (APP):Renowned for its rich biodiversity, Pakistan stands as an important country for conservation of wildlife and migratory birds, particularly its wetlands, which serve as vital breeding and resting grounds to thrive.

The enlargement of forestry cover and wildlife habitats devoloped under green Pakistan initiative has made the country a home to wildlife and migratory birds especially of covered houbara migrating in large number during winter season.

Known as land of Markhor, Pakistan’s wetlands provide complete breeding ground for migratory birds mostly arriving from the Central Asian Republics (CARs) and Siberia owing to an enlargement of forestry cover, wildlife habitats and increase of jungles with an abundance of weeds, insects and plants raised in all four provinces under the Green Pakistan Programme.

Lies at the crossroads for birds migration, Pakistan’s wetlands, arid and semi arid areas draw influx of migratory birds, including houbara, cranes, geese and ducks mostly from freezing Siberia, the CARs and even Europe during harsh winter season owing to substantial enhancement in their forest and wildlife habitats, said Dr Muhammad Mumtaz Malik, former Wildlife Department’s KP Chief.

“These birds mostly arrive through the international migration route known as the Indus Flyway (IF), from Siberia and the CARs by passing through Karakoram, Hindukush, and Suleiman ranges along the Indus River via KP to downwards Sindh coastal areas,” said Dr Mumtaz Malik while talking to APP.

He said houbara population mostly arrive Pakistan in October-December due to limited resources of food in the freezing CARs and returns in March-April to their native areas.

Besides wetlands, he said the desert plains of Punjab, Sindh, KP and Balochistan are the houbara, ducks, geese and cranes’ wintering habitats where sufficient food is available for their natural breeding.

Houbara’s flocks mostly land in Kohat, Bannu, Lakki Marwat and DI Khan in KP, Bahawalpur, Rahimyar Khan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Cholistan in Punjab, Tharparkar Sindh and Balochistan, he said, adding that they eat insects, wild fruits, small reptiles and twigs.

Dr Mumtaz said houbara is very sensitive bird and it does not use the route again if they sense any danger on their way during the first journey, adding the bird move quickly as it takes only few days to reach Pakistan.

“The weather determines the exact timing of travel as the large bird has to avoid harsh weather and snowfall in flights,” he added.

“The population travels in groups having a chieftain and once they looses their chieftain, the deputy guides the group to reach its destination.”

The wildlife expert said houbara can’t stay in severe coldness and Pakistan’s climate is ideally suitable for them during winter for breeding, adding in case a houbra looses its mate, the endangered specie takes three to five years to find a new one.

Dr Mumtaz pointed out that one of the reasons of houbara decrease is the rivalry between its newborn. “The sibling hatching first usually kills the other,” and it lays only two eggs in life.

He said artificial breading is being carried out in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Morocco under extremely controlled condition, and that it is very expensive.

Since all migratory species are hunted especially ducks every year in the range states including Pakistan, he said, the population of some duck species, including white-eyed pochard, marbled teal and garganey has decreased.

He said that short preservation videos on digital media can help create awareness among communities towards their preservation.

Cranes, because of his size, beauty, unique calls, and complex behaviour are also hunted and trapped during migration in substantial numbers mostly due to non implementation of laws.

Dr Mumtaz maintained that climate change has endangered about 90 different wildlife species, including Siberian crane, white backed vulture, long-billed vulture, red-headed vulture, saker and peregrine falcons and hawksbill sea turtle.

Kashmir’s gray langur, Indus dolphin, finback whale, Balochistan bear, musk deer, hog deer, pangolin, Egyptian vulture, green turtle and narrow-headed turtle were also endangered by the climate change induced weather patterns, he added.

He further informed that around 786 wildlife species found in Pakistan, including 186 reptiles and 173 mammals, and that about 90 species including 50 mammals, 27 birds and 17 reptiles were placed in categories of endangered, vulnerable and near to extinction.

To a question about the role of NGOs on preservation and protection of endangered species, including houbara, Dr Mumtaz said the enthusiasm of NGOs interested in preservation of the endangered species has been on the decline side with the passage of time.

Any campaign is bound to fail unless it enjoys the support of community, civil society and underscored the need for community involvement through financial, and other incentives for preservation and protection of all endangered migratory birds.

Gulzar Rehman, former Forest Conservator KP said with enlarging forest cover, the arrival’s frequency of migratory birds has increased manifolds in Pakistan, especially in KP.

He said over 10 new jungles, including Ghari Chandan, Peshawar was raised in KP which provided breeding grounds for wildlife and migratory birds.

Under wildlife biodiversity act 2015, about three new national parks, including Nizampur Nowshera, Malakandi and Kamalban Manshera, six conservancies at Mankyal and Kalam Swat, Turchtor Koh Chitral, Kumrat Dir Upper, Dir Kohistan and Kohisulaman DI Khan, six game reserves at Gujar Banar, Mandor Swat, Dilan Hangu, Haryan Kot Malakand, Kamatmekhaillaki Lakki Marwat and Cheena Gul Hangu, and four sites of special scientific interest (SSSI) at Bar Qalabaish Banar Swat, Mangal Thana and Malaka e Maha Banar Buner and Minkyal Haripur were established.

As a result, KP’s wildlife protected area that was only 10.22 percent prior to 2018, was increased to 15.61 percent in 2022.

A huge amount were collected under trophy hunting program, including regulated hunting of Markhor and Ibex besides partridges hunting and issuance of wildlife licenses for hunting of small animals under the wildlife laws.

Moreover, under the KP zoological gardens and bio safety reserve rules 2021, fee of small arms shooting permit were increased from Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000.

Continuous awareness among communities and public were essential through digtal media plateforms on constant basis to discourage hunting of migratory birds and wildlife besides protecting the key resources for benefits of future generation.