Rarest Animals in Pakistan

Snow Leopard

Snow leopards have found homes in the Hindu Kush and Karakoram mountains of northern Pakistan's Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Kashmir.

Snow leopards typically inhabit between 2,000 and 4,000 meters above sea level, but can sometimes be found at lower elevations north of their range and altitudes as high as 5,500 meters in the Himalayas. Leopards are usually associated with general rocky terrains, such as alpine hills, rocky outcrops, and mountain passes. As summer approaches, snow leopards will follow their migrating prey below the tree line into the lowland forests that cover much of their habitat; however, the leopard is rarely associated with dense forests.

In summer it occurs in alpine pastures up to 5100 meters above sea level, while in winter it decreases to lower levels. In the snow cover of alpine pastures, the following vegetation is characteristic of snow leopard habitat:

• Primula Macrophylla, 
• Sibbald Cuneata,
• Sedum Recticaule,
• Cerastium,
• Cerastioides,
• Oxytropis Immersa.

Which part of Pakistan has the most Snow Leopards?

In Pakistan, snow leopards inhabit the high mountains of the Karakoram and Hindu Kush mountains. They are mainly found in Baltistan, Chitral, Gilgit, Upper Swat Valley, Nanga Parbat Peaks, Khunjerab National Park, and Chitral Gol National Park. The total number of snow leopards in Pakistan is 300-400.

Blind Dolphins

The Indus dolphin is one of the rarest mammals in the world and the second most endangered freshwater pufferfish. These mammals are blind because they don't have lenses in their eyes. It is one of the major species, found only in Pakistan, and is an indicator of the biological health of aquatic and terrestrial environments near the Indus River. However, the species' population has gradually declined due to a combination of factors including water pollution, overfishing, habitat fragmentation from bombing, and dolphin chains in irrigation canals. There are now about 2,000 specimens of this species in a small part of its former range, the lower Indus River in Pakistan.

How many Blind Dolphins are left?

According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the number of blind dolphins, also known as Indus dolphins, increased from about 1,300 in 2011 to more than 1,800 in 2017, a good sign.

 

Not only that, but dolphins have vanished from 80% of the Indus River and are completely extinct in the Sutlej, Beas, and Chenab rivers in the northeast.

Reason for mitigation

The main reason for the reduction of the Indus dolphins from their historic range of about 3,500 km (2,200 mi) in river length to less than 700 km (430 mi) in length is the construction of many dams and dams that, starting in the 1930s, divided the population into small swarms, habitat degradation, and migration hindered. 

 

Additionally, dolphins are no longer found in the lower Indus, as water extraction upstream leaves the downstream channel nearly dry for several months a year. Bycatch in fishing nets; finding meat, oils, and traditional medicines are also effective.

Markhor

Markhor is the national animal of Pakistan. The Markhor is a unique and endangered species that is as beautiful as ever. The name Markhor is derived from two Persian words, Mar, meaning snake, and Khor, meaning food. It's a very controversial name because Markhors are usually vegetarians, so they don't eat snakes, but they could be called snake killers because of their strong feats and snail horns to do so.

Markhor is found in the Gilgit-Baltistan and Baluchistan regions of northern Pakistan. In the local language, Pakistani Markhors are known as Reedakh, Boom Mayaro, Rezkuh, Pachin, Youksh, and Shara. Moreover, Markhor measures 26 to 25 inches at the shoulder, 52 to 73 inches tall, and weighs 30 to 110 kilograms.

Markhor species in Pakistan

The Markhor is currently listed as near threatened on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species, with a total global population of less than 10,000. There are said to be four subspecies of Markhor in Pakistan;

• Astor Markhor (also called, Capra falconeri), 
• Kashmir or Pir Panjal Markhor ( also called, Capra falconeri Cashmiriensis), 
• Kabul Markhor (Capra falconeri megaceros), 
• Suleiman Markhor (Capra falconeri Jerdoni)

You can check out our "Markhor Spotting Trip" tour that includes this amazing place