Kirthar National Park

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 km² (1,192 sq mi), making it the third largest national park in Pakistan. Wildlife in the park comprises leopard, striped hyena, Indian wolves, honey badger, urial, chinkara gazelles and rare Sindh ibex. Blackbuck are kept in enclosures for a reintroduction project.^[1]

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
Area	3,087 km2 (1,192 sq mi)
Established	1974
Governing body	Wildlife and Parks Department of Government of Pakistan

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.^[2] Species found 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 found the park includes:

• Indian python
• Indian cobra
• Russell's viper
• Indian saw-scaled viper
• Sind krait
• Black copper rat snake
• Indian star tortoise
• Desert monitor
• Yellow monitor
• Mugger crocodile (possible extirpated)

Gallery

• 
  Map of Kirthar National Park in Sindh
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  Sindh wild goats in the park
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  Chinkara gazelle in the park
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  Sindh wild goats on a hill
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  Female Sindh Ibex in Kirthar National Park.
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  Ranikot
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  Taung

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

1. Michael J. B. Green: IUCN directory of South Asian protected areas. Iucn-World Conservation Union (December 1990). ISBN 2-8317-0030-2
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