Distribution and Current Status of the Reptiles of Khirthar Protected Area Complex (KPAC) and Adjoining Areas in Districts Karachi, Jamshoro and Thatta, Sindh, Pakistan

Syed Ghalib,Saquib Hussain,Naseem Samreen,Fozia Tabbassum,Afsheen Zehra,Abdur Khan,Babar Hussain,Abeda Begum,Tahira Lateef,M Ali,Muhammad Khan

doi:10.12944/cwe.10.1.13

Abstract

In this study, surveys were undertaken during 2008 – 2013, to record the distribution and status of reptiles of the area, during the study 41 species of reptiles were recorded. Twenty two important habitats for reptiles in the area were identified and listed. Indian Spiny-tailed Lizard (Saara hardwickii) was found to be under threat in its localized habitat in Jhimpir Wind Corridor block in Thatta district and Indian Fat–tail Gecko (Eublepharis macularius) was noted to have been almost disappeared from most of the area due to large scale capture of the species for sale in the local markets.

Highlights

The present studies were undertaken in some important areas for reptiles in Sindh viz. Khirthar Protected Area Complex (KPAC) and in Jhimpir area (Thatta District).The Khirthar Protected Areas Complex (KPAC) stretches over 4,350 km[2], encompassing the Protected Areas (PAs) that lie in Kohistanarea in the southwest of Sindh and it comprises of Khirthar National Park (KNP), the MahalKohistan (MKWS) and Hab Dam Wildlife Sanctuaries (HDWS), and the Surjan, Sumbak, Eri, and Hothiano Game Reserves (SGR).The KNP, MKWS, and HDWS were notified on January 31, 1974
It is quite close to the Game Reserves areas in KPAC. 08 species of reptiles have been recorded from the area, the important ones being the Monitor Lizards (Begum et al 2013)
Earlier data about the biodiversity of the area had been collected during the Environmental Study of KPAC in 2000 and 2012

Summary

INTRODUCTION

The present studies were undertaken in some important areas for reptiles in Sindh viz. Khirthar Protected Area Complex (KPAC) and in Jhimpir area (Thatta District).The Khirthar Protected Areas Complex (KPAC) stretches over 4,350 km[2], encompassing the Protected Areas (PAs) that lie in Kohistanarea in the southwest of Sindh and it comprises of Khirthar National Park (KNP), the MahalKohistan (MKWS) and Hab Dam Wildlife Sanctuaries (HDWS), and the Surjan, Sumbak, Eri, and Hothiano Game Reserves (SGR).The KNP, MKWS, and HDWS were notified on January 31, 1974. Significant sites include the tombs in Taung, the fort of Rannikot, and the fossils and petrified forests of the Khirthar Range. In addition to these sites, field surveys were made in some selected potentially important localities in Darawat Dam Area (district Jamshoro) and Jhimpir Wind Corridor area (District Thatta) and data were collected in respect of reptiles of the area, the Indian Spiny-tail Lizard, and the Monitor Lizards. It is quite close to the Game Reserves areas in KPAC. 08 species of reptiles have been recorded from the area, the important ones being the Monitor Lizards (Begum et al 2013)

Materials and Methods

Squamata 7 Squamata 8 Squamata

Results and Discussion

Environmental Management Consultants