Kirthar National Park is Pakistan's second biggest National Park and the first in the country to be included in the 1975 United Nation's list of National Parks around the world. Khirthar National Park lies 80 kms North of Karachi in the south-west of Sindh province within Dadu and Malir Districts.
Kirthar is an important habitat for a variety of mammals, birds and reptiles. An estimated 276, species of fauna have been recorded in the Park. Among these are Sindh ibex, Urial, Chinkara, Wold, Striped hyaena and Caracal cat. Some of the reptiles found in the park are the Rock python, Sind cobra, Russell's viper, Sawscaled viper, Sind krait, Royal rat snake, tortoises, monitor lizards, Sind crocodile (possibly extinct) and different species of lizard and chameleon.
The principal vegetation of the park comprises Acacia senegal, Acacia nilotica, Prosopis cineraria, Tecomella undulata, Zizyphus nummularia, Commiphora and stocksiana, Commiphora wighgtii, Capparis decidua.
Khirthar National Park is also rich in cultural heritage. It is home to the enormous Rani Kot Fort, 18th century Chawkandi style tombs at Taung and pre-historic archaeological remains at Koh Tarash.
Source: Sindh Wildlife Department
There are thirty three wildlife sanctuaries in Sindh.
# |
Protected Areas. |
District |
Area in Hectares |
1 | Takkar |
Khairpur |
43,513.334 |
2 | Hudero Lake |
Thatta |
13,468.416 |
3 | Keenjhar (Kalri) Lake |
“ |
1,320.940 |
4 | Haleji Lake |
“ |
1,704.273 |
5 | Lung Lake |
Larkana |
19.179 |
6 | Drigh Lake |
“ |
164.268 |
7 | Mahal Kohistan |
Dadu |
70,577.090 |
8 | Hab Dam |
Karachi |
27.219.151 |
9 | Ghondhak Dhoro |
Jacobabad |
30.92 |
10 | Miani Dhand |
Hyderabad |
56.66 |
11 | Samno Dhand |
Hyderabad |
22.66 |
12 | Gulsher Dhand |
“ |
24.282 |
13 | Dhounk Block |
Shikarpur |
2,097.965 |
14 | Lakhat |
Shaheed Benazirabad (formerly Nawabshsh) |
101.175 |
15 | Kot Dinghano |
“ |
30.252 |
16 | Mohabat Dero |
“ |
16.188 |
17 | Bijoro Chhach |
Thatta |
121.41 |
18 | Norung |
“ |
242.82 |
19 | Cut Munarki Chhach |
“ |
404.70 |
20 | Sadnani |
“ |
83.772 |
21 | Shah Lanko |
“ |
60.705 |
22 | Hilaya |
“ |
323.76 |
23 | Majiran |
“ |
24.282 |
24 | Gullet Kohri |
“ |
40.47 |
25 | Marho Kotri |
“ |
161.88 |
26 | Munarki |
“ |
12.141 |
27 | Khadi |
“ |
80.94 |
28 | Keti Bander North |
“ |
8,948.322 |
29 | Keti Bander South |
“ |
23,046.06 |
30 | Khat Dhoro |
Larkana |
10.522 |
31 | Runn of Kutch |
Badin & Tharparkar |
320463 |
32 | Nara Desert |
Sukkur, Khairpur 7 Sanghar |
223590 |
33 | Deh Akro - II |
Shaheed Benazirabad (formerly Nawabshsh) |
20243 |
The Sindh Wildlife Department recognizes 13 game reserves present in the province of Sindh. These are listed as under:
# |
Protected Areas. |
District |
Area in Hectares |
1 | Deh Jangisar |
Thatta |
313.642 |
2 | Deh Khalifa |
Thatta |
428.982 |
3 | Dosu Forest |
Larkana |
2,312.212 |
4 | Hala Forest |
Hyderabad |
953.473 |
5 | Indus River (Dolphin Reserve) From Sukkur to Guddu Barrage |
Jacobabad/Ghotki/Shikarpur &Sukkur |
44.200 |
6 | Khipro Forest |
Sanghar |
3,885.254 |
7 | Mando Dero Forest |
Sukkur |
1,234.335 |
8 | Mirpur Sakro Forest |
Thatta |
777.024 |
9 | Nara |
Khairpur |
109,966.39 |
10 | Pai Forest |
Shaheed Benazirabad (formerly Nawabshsh) |
1,969.270 |
11 | Sahib Samo Forest |
Hyderabad |
348.473 |
12 | Surjan, Sumbak, Eri & Hothiano Mountains |
Dadu |
40,631.88 |
13 | Tando Mitho Khan Forest |
Sanghar |
5,343,294 |
Source: Sindh Wildlife Department
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