Wild Life Of Northern Areas Of Pakistan:

Introduction to Wild Life of Northern Areas Of Pakistan

Gilgit-Baltistan without any doubt can be termed as living museum for wildlife. Varieties of wild animals & birds like Marcopolo Sheep, Markhore, Urial, Blue Sheep, Lynx, Snow leopard, Brown & Black Bears, Wolf, Fox, Marmote, Chakor, Rame Chakor. One of the rare species tibetan wild ass is also found in Shimshall Valley of upper Hunza. All these resources are being managed for their survival and multiplication through establishment of National parks, Game sanctuaries and Game Reserves cmmunity conserved areas. The Gilgit-Baltistan Government has declared nine commuinity controlled hunting areas in the past jointly managed by the communities, International

 NGOs and the Gilgit-Baltistan Government.Owing the vast potential of the areas, the wildlife Division of Forest Department Gilgit-Baltistan had initiated trophy hunting programs in collaboration with the international NGOs, like AKRSP, IUCN, WWF & concerned communities with the objective to provide incentives in hsape of in come from suitable management introducing Participatory approach on experimental basis in the year 1993.

Markhor

Snow Leopard

Lessons learned from the participatory approach, it can safely be concluded that the papulation of wild animals is on the increase despite various natural calamities peculiar to the fragile mountain eco-system of Gilgit-Baltistan. From comparison of population dynamics of the past, we are confident that the trophy hunting program is paying its worth in term of success in conservation of biodiversity.