KARACHI: The recent torrential monsoon rains has bring the ongoing severe drought to an end in the Khirthar National Park, the second largest national park of Pakistan, that was suffering with acute water shortage for last three years.
The current monsoon spell has filled the watering point, made by the Sindh Wildlife for the antelope, mammals and birds in this protected national park. Also, the barren park has started transforming into a lush green one due to rains.
“A huge size seasonal river, Nae Gaaj from Dadu has started flowing and many other streams are also full of the water and there is sufficient water for the animals of the park for next one year,” said Ghulam Muhamad Gadani, deputy provincial conservator, Sindh Wildlife Department.
He said that due to continued dry spell for past three years most of the streams, rivers and natural ponds as well as the watering points had dried up making the animals fo the park suffer. “But the recent spell of rains has brought positive changes in the park,” said Gadani.
Spread in the Karachi, Dadu and Jamshoro districts, the park also touches Hub Dam. The official record of Sindh wildlife department reveals that there are 18 species of mammals, including wild goats, Urial, blackbucks, chinkara, Sindh ibexes, 65 species of birds and 25 species of reptiles in the park.
After Hingol National Park in Balochistan, the Kirthar National Park is the second largest national park. The park qualifies International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN)’s criteria of protected sites. Thus, it was declared as protected site under the United Nation’s list of National Parks and Equivalent Reserves in 1975. It was first-ever national park that was declared in such category.