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Pakistan's native fauna reflect its varied climatic zones. Thenorthern Pakistan, which includes Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit Baltistan, has portions of twobiodiversity hotspots,Mountains of Central Asia andHimalayas.[1]
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The northern highlands include lower elevation areas ofPotohar andPakistan Administered Kashmir regions and higher elevation areas embracing the foothills ofHimalayan,Karakorum andHindukush mountain ranges. Some of the wildlife species found on northern mountainous areas andPothohar Plateau include the non-threatened mammal species ofbharal,Eurasian lynx,Himalayan goral,Indian leopard,Marco Polo sheep,marmot (inDeosai National Park) andyellow-throated marten and birds species ofchukar partridge,Eurasian eagle-owl,Himalayan monal andHimalayan snowcock and amphibian species ofHimalayan toad andMuree Hills frog. The threatened ones includeAsiatic black bear,Himalayan brown bear,Indian wolf,Kashmir gray langur,Kashmir red deer,markhor,rhesus macaque,Siberian ibex,smooth-coated otter andwhite-bellied musk deer, bird species ofcheer pheasant,peregrine falcon,western tragopan and reptile species ofmugger crocodile.
River Indus and its numerous eastern tributaries ofChenab form manyfluvial landforms that occupy most of Indus plains inPunjab and westernSindh. Some of the non-threatened mammal species of the Indus plains and the deserts of Sindh include thenilgai,red fox andwild boar, bird species ofAlexandrine parakeet,barn owl,black kite,myna,hoopoe,Indian peafowl,red-vented bulbul,rock pigeon,shelduck andshikra, reptile species ofIndian cobra,Indian star tortoise,Sindh krait andyellow monitor and amphibian species ofIndus Valley bullfrog andIndus Valley toad. Some of the threatened mammal species include thesambar deer,axis deer,blackbuck,Indian hog deer,Indian rhinoceros,Punjab urial andSindh ibex, bird species ofwhite-backed vulture and reptile species ofblack pond turtle andgharial.Grey partridge is one of the few birds that can be found in the Cholistan desert. The Tharparkar desert supports a fair population of thechinkara. TheAsiatic wild ass migrates from the Indian part of theGreat Rann of Kutch to the part in Pakistan in search of food.
TheAsiatic lion used to occur in this region. In 1810, a lion was killed nearKot Diji.[2]
Western region of Pakistan, most of which is enveloped inBalochistan province, has a complex geography. Some of the mammal species include thecaracal,Balochistan leopard,Balochistan forest dormouse,Blanford's fox,dromedary camel,goitered gazelle,Indian crested porcupine,long-eared hedgehog,markhor,ratel andstriped hyena, bird species ofbearded vulture,houbara bustard andmerlin, reptile species ofleopard gecko andsaw-scaled viper and amphibian species ofBalochistan toad.
Pakistan hosts a number of protectedwetlands under theRamsar Convention. The wetlands are a habitat for migratory birds such asDalmatian pelicans anddemoiselle crane as well as predatory species ofosprey,common kingfisher,fishing cat andleopard cat near the coastline.Chashma and Taunsa Barrage Dolphin Sanctuary protects the threatened species ofIndus river dolphins which live infreshwater. The coastline of Pakistan is 1,050 km long and consists of a variety of habitat types, supporting a wide range of animals, of which over 1000 are fish species in thereefs of itscontinental shelf. West coast ofGreat Rann of Kutch, east to the Indus River Delta and belowTharparkar desert, is one of the few places wheregreater flamingos come to breed. It is also a habitat for endangered species oflesser florican. TheIndus River Delta provide nesting grounds forcommon snakehead,giant snakehead,Indus baril and many species ofcatfish likerita. Thehilsa swims up from theArabian Sea to spawn in freshwater. Species that are important to people as food, such as thegolden mahseer and large freshwatershrimp (Macrobrachium species), are part of the abundant aquatic life. Along the shores ofAstola andOrmara beaches of Balochistan andHawk'e Bay andSandspit beaches of Sindh are nesting sites for five endangered species ofsea turtles:green sea,loggerhead,hawksbill,olive ridley andleatherback.Sea snakes such asyellow-bellied sea snake are also found in thepelagic zone of the sea. The wetlands of Pakistan are also a home to the endangered species ofgharial andmugger crocodile who prefer freshwater habitat.
| Title | Symbol | Picture |
|---|---|---|
| National animal | Markhor (Capra falconeri) |  |
| State animal | Snow leopard (Uncia uncia) |  |
| National bird | Chukar partridge (Alectoris chukar) |  |
| State bird | Shaheen falcon or Shaheen (Falco peregrinus peregrinator) |  |
| National aquatic animal | Indus dolphin or Bhulan (Platanista minor) |  |
| National butterfly | Indian purple emperor (Mimathyma ambica) |  |
| National fish | Mahseer (Tor putitora) |  |
| National reptile | Mugger crocodile (Crocodylus palustris) |  |
| National amphibian | Indus Valley toad (Bufo stomaticus) |  |
