AN OVERVIEW OF OCCURRENCE, DISTRIBUTION AND STATUS OF THE BIRDS OF KHIRTHAR PROTECTED AREA COMPLEX (KPAC), SINDH Page No: 2515-2532

Syed A Ghalib, Saquib E Hussain, M Zaheer Khan, Said A Damhoureyeh Rehana Yasmeen, Afsheen Zehra, Farina Fatima, Babar Hussain, Saima Siddiqui, Darakhshan Abbas, Fozia Tabbassum, Naseem Samreen, A Razzaq Khan, Tanveer Jabeen, M Usman A Hashmi and Syed Ali Hasnain

Keywords: Khirthar National Park, protected areas of Sindh, birds of Sindh.

Abstract: The present field studies were undertaken to collect data on the distribution and status of the birds in the Khirthar Protected Areas Complex (KPAC). These took place for a period of six months from September, 2012 to March, 2013. The data were collected at 50 sites throughout the Complex and compiled. Seven different habitats were identified for the study of the birds of the area. A total of 207 species of birds belonging to 15 Orders and 38 Families alongwith their status were recorded. Among them, 08 species have been listed as threatened and 06 as near threatened as per IUCN Red List.The highest avian biodiversity was found at the wetland sites and at cropland/ villages, and the lowest in mountainous areas. From the conservation view point, highest number of threatened/ Near threatened species of birds were found at the Wetland Sites and next at Riparian/ Sandy/Plain areas.



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