Weathering the Wild: Global warming termed greatest threat to wildlife

Threat to animal populations increasing as temperatures rise and hibernation periods for many species are decreasing.

FAISALABAD:

A joint study two lecturers at the department of Zoology at the Government College University, Faisalabad stated that droughts caused by global warming were wreaking havoc on local wildlife in Pakistan.  

According to the study, conducted by Dr Muhammad Riaz Qamar and Maryam Mukhtar, global warming poses the most potent threat to local wildlife. The threat to animal populations is increasing as temperatures rise and hibernation periods for many species are decreasing.

Mukhtar said that shorter hibernating periods pose leads to significant decline in the population of several species including marmots, chipmunks and brown bears.

Dr Qamar said that Pakistan is home to diverse wildlife population. “All these species are under threat because of global warming and changing climate patterns in Pakistan. We need to take practical measures to control and neutralise the impact of climate change in Pakistan to safeguard wildlife,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 29^th, 2011.