Winter time in the Hazarganji-Chiltan National Park in Balochistan, Pakistan - February 2011
I have visited the Hazarganji-Chiltan National Park previously in Spring. I have always wanted to visit in winter and this year I finally got the chance. I did visit after the bulk of the snow had fallen. Snow was left on the upper slopes. It was still very cold though. The landscapes in winter looked totally surreal. The vegetation looked golden and grey-ish.
Due tothe recent troubles in Balochistan its going to be very difficult visiting the national park as there maybe a chance of abductions. The Balochistan Wildlife Department would not give me a permit but luckily I knew someone in the conservation field that could help me get through.
www.wildlifeofpakistan.com/ProtectedAreasofPakistan/Hazar...
FACT FILE:
Geographical Location: 30'17'N-67*13'E
Physical Location: 20 south-west of Quetta in the province of Baluchistan
Total Area: 15,555 hectares
Date Established: 1980
Best Time to Visit: March to September
Hazarganji Chiltan National Park, is another beautiful national park of Pakistan. The area is mountainous with precipitous slopes divided by ravines. The Chiltan Hills and Hazar Ganji Range lie west and east, respectively, of the north-south Chiltan divide. It can easily be reached from the provincial capital Quetta and attracts many visitors. Facilities include a museum, picnic spots and accommodation in rest houses.
Hazar Ganji means a thousand treasures. In the folds of these mountains, legend has it, there are over a thousand treasures buried, reminders of the passage of great armies down the corridors of history. The Bactrains, Scythians, Mongols and then the great migrating hordes of Baloch, all passed this way.
Wildlife:
This park was primarily establised to provide refuge to the endangered Chiltan wild goat or Markhor. In the 1950s it was said to exceed 1,200, but in November 1970 the population was estimated to number about 200, based on a total count of 107 individuals. At present the total population of the Chiltan wild goat is estimated to be about 800. The Suleiman markhor is also present in the northern part of the Chiltan Range and a few urial still survive on the western slopes between 1,500m and 2,100m. Carnivores include Stripped hyaena and Red fox.
Mammals:
Mammals in the park include--Chiltan wildgoat or Markhor (T), Suleiman Markhor (T), Urial sheep (Gad) (V), Indian wolf (R), Stripped hyena (V), Leopard (?), Caracal (?), Jackal (C), Red fox (C), Porcupine (C) and Desert hare (C).
Note: T=Threatened, V=Vulnerable, R=Rare, C=Common, ?=Unknown.
Birds:
Birds in the park are--Houbara bustard, Griffon vulture, Egyptian vulture, Honey buzzard, Laggar falcon, Peregrine falcon, Kestrel, Indian sparrow hawk, Scops owl, Common cuckoo, European bee-eater, Rock partridge, European nightjar, Long-billed pipit, Orphean warbler, Variable wheatear, Blue rock thrush, Stonechat, and Lichtenstein's desert finch.
Reptiles:
Reptiles in the park are-- Monitor lizard, Russell's viper, Saw scaled viper and Spiny tailed lizard.
Winter time in the Hazarganji-Chiltan National Park in Balochistan, Pakistan - February 2011
I have visited the Hazarganji-Chiltan National Park previously in Spring. I have always wanted to visit in winter and this year I finally got the chance. I did visit after the bulk of the snow had fallen. Snow was left on the upper slopes. It was still very cold though. The landscapes in winter looked totally surreal. The vegetation looked golden and grey-ish.
Due tothe recent troubles in Balochistan its going to be very difficult visiting the national park as there maybe a chance of abductions. The Balochistan Wildlife Department would not give me a permit but luckily I knew someone in the conservation field that could help me get through.
www.wildlifeofpakistan.com/ProtectedAreasofPakistan/Hazar...
FACT FILE:
Geographical Location: 30'17'N-67*13'E
Physical Location: 20 south-west of Quetta in the province of Baluchistan
Total Area: 15,555 hectares
Date Established: 1980
Best Time to Visit: March to September
Hazarganji Chiltan National Park, is another beautiful national park of Pakistan. The area is mountainous with precipitous slopes divided by ravines. The Chiltan Hills and Hazar Ganji Range lie west and east, respectively, of the north-south Chiltan divide. It can easily be reached from the provincial capital Quetta and attracts many visitors. Facilities include a museum, picnic spots and accommodation in rest houses.
Hazar Ganji means a thousand treasures. In the folds of these mountains, legend has it, there are over a thousand treasures buried, reminders of the passage of great armies down the corridors of history. The Bactrains, Scythians, Mongols and then the great migrating hordes of Baloch, all passed this way.
Wildlife:
This park was primarily establised to provide refuge to the endangered Chiltan wild goat or Markhor. In the 1950s it was said to exceed 1,200, but in November 1970 the population was estimated to number about 200, based on a total count of 107 individuals. At present the total population of the Chiltan wild goat is estimated to be about 800. The Suleiman markhor is also present in the northern part of the Chiltan Range and a few urial still survive on the western slopes between 1,500m and 2,100m. Carnivores include Stripped hyaena and Red fox.
Mammals:
Mammals in the park include--Chiltan wildgoat or Markhor (T), Suleiman Markhor (T), Urial sheep (Gad) (V), Indian wolf (R), Stripped hyena (V), Leopard (?), Caracal (?), Jackal (C), Red fox (C), Porcupine (C) and Desert hare (C).
Note: T=Threatened, V=Vulnerable, R=Rare, C=Common, ?=Unknown.
Birds:
Birds in the park are--Houbara bustard, Griffon vulture, Egyptian vulture, Honey buzzard, Laggar falcon, Peregrine falcon, Kestrel, Indian sparrow hawk, Scops owl, Common cuckoo, European bee-eater, Rock partridge, European nightjar, Long-billed pipit, Orphean warbler, Variable wheatear, Blue rock thrush, Stonechat, and Lichtenstein's desert finch.
Reptiles:
Reptiles in the park are-- Monitor lizard, Russell's viper, Saw scaled viper and Spiny tailed lizard.