Iqbal Saeed Khan, M Usman Ali Hashmi, Amtyaz Safi and Tahira Abdul Latif
Keywords: Keenjhar lake, vertebrate biodiversity, environment, threats
Abstract: Globally there are 2247 Ramsar sites with total area of 214,958,432 ha, including 19 sites of Pakistan. Keenjhar Lake is considered as one of largest freshwater lakes of Sindh, and it is the major source of water supply through different feeder canals to largest city of Karachi. There are 54 species of fishes, 121 species of birds, 25 species of mammals, two species of amphibian and 29 species of reptiles were reported. Aquatic ecosystem of the lake is under threat due to increased industrial and domestic effluent discharge via Kalri-Baghar Feeder Canal which carries contaminants from Kotri urban and Industrial area. KB Feeder Canal is the main source of pollution to Keenjhar Lake. Presently, industrial discharge from Kotri and Nooriabad industries are source for affecting water quality and health of this wetland, we also noted that eutrophication is also problem in the lake. Water samples collected from Keenjhar Lake found contained pesticides below the Maximum Acceptable Concentrations level
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