Influential persons including some dignitaries from Gulf states area poaching in Kirthar National Park (KNP) Sindh in winter season in connivance with black sheep in related government departments, further endangering precious species like houbara bustard, eagle, and water fowl, ibex, urial and many other animals and birds.
Well informed sources in the wildlife department told PPI that some local and foreign VVIP personalities have been continuing poaching in this park while certain quarters in the federal government and provincial government are facilitating them. There are now over 5,000 wild goat, about 1,250 urial and less than 150 chinkara in the park, and a further 400 wild goat and 70 urial in the game reserve.
A helicopter survey conducted in November 2000 yielded estimates of the total populations of the three large indigenous ungulates in the park. The Sindh ibex population was estimated at 13,155, and concentrated on the Kirthar Range, with lower concentrations on Khambu and Dumbar and small numbers elsewhere; higher elevations appear critical to this species.
The Sindh urial population was estimated at 10,425 and concentrated on rocky sites with characteristic vegetation mainly near Khar and at Dumbar, with small numbers elsewhere. The chinkara population was estimated at 1060 and concentrated in the lowlands, sharing much of its habitat with farming. The KNP populations of all three species are of conservation importance. In October 1984, 15 black bucks from the USA were brought to Khar visitor center for captive propagation.
Over 34 species of mammals are found in Kirthar National Park including Sindh leopard, stripped Hyena, desert wolf, Indian fox, Sindh wild goat, Bland ford's Urial, honey Badger, Indian Pangolin,
Caracal, jungle cat, jackal, Chinkara Gazelle, black buck, hedgehog, porcupine, Indian gray mongoose, Cairo spiny mouse and the rock mouse. Over 58 species of birds are found in the park including Lammegier vulture (winter migrant), Bonnelli's eagle, imperial eagle, tawny eagle, golden eagle, Eurasian griffon vulture, Egyptian vulture, Cinereous vulture, Lagger falcon, red-headed merlin, Kestrel, close-barred sand grouse, houbara bustard, gray partridge, see-see partridge, stone curlew, Indian sand grouse, Coronetted sand grouse, painted sand grouse, eagle owl, Sindh pied woodpecker, Hume's chat, brown rock pipit, striped buning, Finche larks, Hoopoe, Shrikes and Wheatears.
Reptiles are found there including the Rock python, Sindh cobra, Russell's viper, saw-scaled viper, Sindh krait, royal rat snake, tortoises, desert monitor lizard, yellow monitor lizard, Sindh crocodile (possibly extinct) and different species of lizard and chameleon.
A senior official in the wildlife department, requesting anonymity, said if the 'trophy hunting' of precious birds and animals by VVIPs were not stopped in the Kirthar National Park, it may further harm the endangered species there. He suggested that to increase the population of precious birds and animals in the park all kinds of poaching should be stopped for good.