Four more wild goats found dead

Deaths follow 12 earlier fatalities attributed to an epidemic; Sindh Wildlife Department awaits reports

KARACHI:

People living in the vicinity of Kirthar National Park have reported that four adult Sindh ibexes were found dead near a water pond.

These deaths follow 12 earlier fatalities attributed to an epidemic, though the Sindh Wildlife Department is waiting for the reports after sending the samples of the dead animals to the laboratories to confirm the cause of death.

However, one similarity remains a matter of concern that all the dead ibexes were found near water ponds, raising doubts if the water had gone poisonous in some way.

The Kirthar National Park situated in the Kirthar Mountains in Jamshoro district is spread over 3,087 square kilometres making it the third largest national park in Pakistan. The ibex population in this protected area is estimated to be 30,000, whereas a sizeable number of other mammal-like wildcat, wolf, hyena, jackal and badger also thrive there.

According to the Sindh Wildlife Department officials, locals reported to them the discovery of four dead ibexes near water reservoir on Tuesday. The dead include a female ibex and its kid.

Sindh Wildlife Administrator Mumtaz Soomro said that besides the dead ibexes, there were reports of nine other sick ibexes. The SWD officials believe that the disease was spreading from the water and efforts were being made to clean the ponds. Moreover, in view of the risk of disease spread, the flow of water into the large pond has been shut off.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 20^th, 2023.