| Kirthar National Park | |
|---|---|
| Urdu: کِیرتھر نیشنل پارک, Sindhi (کيرٿرنيشنل پارڪ) | |
| IUCN category II (national park) | |
 View of the Kirthar Park | |
  Park location in Pakistan | |
| Location | Jamshoro District, Sindh, Pakistan |
| Coordinates | 25°42′N 67°35′E / 25.700°N 67.583°E / 25.700; 67.583 |
| Area | 3,087 km (1,192 sq mi) |
| Established | 1974 |
| Governing body | Wildlife and Parks Department of Government of Pakistan |
The Kirthar National Park is situated in the Kirthar Mountains in Jamshoro District in Sindh, Pakistan. It was established in 1974 and encompasses over 3,087 km (1,192 sq mi), making it the third largest national park in Pakistan. Wildlife in the park comprises leopard, striped hyena, Indian wolf, honey badger, urial, chinkara gazelle and rare Sindh ibex. Blackbuck are kept in enclosures for a reintroduction project.
Species
Mammals
Total species: 33. Mammals in the park include
- Asiatic wildcat, Felis lybica ornata
- Caracal, Caracal caracal caracal
- Indian wolf, Canis lupus pallipes
- Golden jackal, Canis aureus persica
- White-footed fox, Vulpes vulpes pusilla
- Striped hyena, Hyaena hyaena hyaena
- Indian grey mongoose, Urva edwardsii edwardsii
- Honey badger, Mellivora capensis indica
- Cairo spiny mouse, Acomys cahirinus
- Sand-colored soft-furred rat, Millardia gleadowi
- Indian bush rat, Golunda ellioti
- Sind bat, Rhyneptesicus nasutus
- Sindh ibex, Capra aegagrus blythi
- Urial, Ovis vignei blanfordi
- Chinkara, Gazella bennettii fuscifrons
- Blackbuck (reintroduced), Antilope cervicapra
- Arabian wolf, Canis lupus arabs
- Indian pangolin, Manis crassicaudata
- Jungle cat, Felis chaus
- Indian hedgehog, Paraechinus micropus
- Brandt's hedgehog, Paraechinus hypomelas
- Indian crested porcupine, Hystrix indica
Birds
At least 147 species of birds have been recorded in Kirthar National Park. Species found in the park include bearded vulture (winter migratory), Bonelli's eagle, imperial eagle, tawny eagle, golden eagle, griffon vulture, Egyptian vulture, cinereous vulture, laggar falcon, red-necked falcon, common kestrel, crowned sandgrouse, MacQueen's bustard, grey partridge, see-see partridge, white-tailed lapwing, chestnut-bellied sandgrouse, Lichtenstein's sandgrouse, painted sandgrouse, Indian eagle-owl, Sind woodpecker, hypocolius, Hume's wheatear, long-billed pipit, crested bunting, desert lark, hoopoe and Indian silverbill.
Reptiles
Reptiles in the park include:
- Indian python
- Indian cobra
- Russell's viper
- Indian saw-scaled viper
- Sind krait
- Black copper rat snake
- Indian star tortoise
- Desert monitor
- Yellow monitor
See also
- Takkar National Park
- Gabar dams
- List of national parks in Pakistan
- List of parks and gardens in Pakistan
- List of parks and gardens in Lahore
- List of parks and gardens in Karachi
References
- Michael J. B. Green: IUCN directory of South Asian protected areas. Iucn-World Conservation Union (December 1990). ISBN 2-8317-0030-2
- "Kirthar NP--Khar Center, SD, PK - eBird Hotspot".
External links
Media related to Kirthar National Park at Wikimedia Commons
Kirthar National Park travel guide from Wikivoyage- Kirthar National Park at Wildlife of Pakistan
25°42′N 67°35′E / 25.700°N 67.583°E / 25.700; 67.583
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