Measures to be taken for wild species’ protection

PESHAWAR:

A team of Wildlife Department DI Khan division has successfully completed first-ever wildlife and habitat survey in South Waziristan district.

“The five-day survey was conducted jointly with support and cooperation of different departments including Pakistan Forest Institute (PFI), WWF-Pakistan, Zoological Survey of Pakistan (ZSP) and Pakistan Museum of Natural History (PMNH),” DFO Wildlife Khan Malook said.

Talking to APP here on Thursday, Khan Malook said on the basis of survey conducted in South Waziristan, measures would be taken for protection of wild species and their habitats in biodiversity rich areas including Koh-e-Suleman, Ladha, Makeen and Shwal. The survey was planned under the flagship Ten Billion Tree Tsunami Wildlife Programme and was completed in five consecutive days, Malook told APP.

All the survey team members worked with zeal and full dedication during the whole process and completed the task according to schedule.

On the first day of the survey, starting from DI Khan to Drazinda and FR-Sherani area, the survey team members witnessed a number of birds, animals, plans, reptiles and amphibians, Khan Malook added. The team also inspected various flora and fauna in Koh-e-Suleman and its adjacent areas, he said.

The whole area was found very productive from biodiversity point of view and the survey will prove very fruitful, he hoped.

During visit to Gomal Zam Dam site, a meeting was also held with unit in-charge of Frontier Crops, Maj Rizwan Ullah Cheema and discussed with him the protection of wildlife in general and migratory birds to site in particular.

Khan Malook said that during visit to Toi Khulla, Gull Katch and Zarmilana area a number of species including see-see, chakor, partridges, steppe eagles, ducks and various other birds were seen on the way.

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While proceeding to Angor Adda, the area was found inhabited by Juniper forests. The forest was thick and was inhabited by various species of plants, birds, reptiles and animals. Additional specimen of plants were also seen which were not collected before. The area was too rich to compare with the moist temperate forests of northern K-P, Khan Malook observed. On the last day of survey, teams visited Lower Sholam in the start of Mehsud area, which is covered by forest of Quercus Pure patches, mixture of Chilghoza pine and presence of Cedrus deodara. The area was rich in biodiversity having excellent cover rather virgin forests due to less population in the area and strict control of the Pakistan Armed Forces. No hunting and even free roaming was allowed as discussed with FC personnel. Staff moved deep into the forest and collected data of concern i.e plants, animals, reptiles and birds. Khan Malook expressed the hope that survey finding will help in protection of this biodiversity rich region providing habitats to a large number of birds and animals.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 30^th, 2021.