- Home
- Pakistan
- News
- Houbara Bustard population census shows slight decline, less hunting amid locust attack
Houbara Bustard Population Census Shows Slight Decline, Less Hunting Amid Locust Attack
Umer Jamshaid Published January 06, 2020 | 05:30 PM
A recent survey for reckoning the population of Houbara Bustard species by the Punjab Wildlife and Parks Department showed a slight decline in the number of the Bustards and its hunting due to locusts attack in Cholistan and Thal region
ISLAMABAD (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 6th Jan, 2020 ) :A recent survey for reckoning the population of Houbara Bustard species by the Punjab Wildlife and Parks Department showed a slight decline in the number of the Bustards and its hunting due to locusts attack in Cholistan and Thal region.
Talking to APP, Punjab Wildlife Protection Department Director Naeem Bhatti said the number had decreased in 2019 to 5,000 which was 6,000 in 2018. "This 20-25 percent drop in the number of Houbara Bustard is not drastic rather a insignificant that can be attributed to natural reasons," he added.
Bhatti said Bustard feed on insects, shrubs and other small creatures whereas locusts were a healthy diet for them that would help increase in its population.
Moreover, due to locusts attack in Sindh province there were meek hunting encounters to take place that also helped sustain the growing number of Bustards.
He added that Bustard used to travel during full moon nights whereas the rain spells during past year helped improve the barren arid lands which helped provide a suitable habitat for the species.
"People in these barren areas have harvested chickpeas and other small growing crops that attract the Houbara Bustard," he added.
Earlier, due to dry weather and less wet lands, ponds and water bodies these birds including other migratory birds had shifted their visiting patterns, he added.
\395
Recent Stories
HEC reviews curricula for environmental sciences degree programme
ICC Asia looking forward to an action-packed Asia Cricket Week
Yuvraj Singh named ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Ambassador
Greece hands Olympic flame to 2024 Paris Games hosts
Two Kyiv hospitals evacuating over feared Russian strikes
World must act on neurotech revolution, say experts
Charles & Catherine's cancer diagnoses
Champions Alcaraz and Sabalenka through in Madrid Open
King Charles to resume some public duties during cancer treatment: palace
US defense chief announces $6 bn in security aid for Ukraine
Heavy rains cause damage to Spezand-Taftan railway track
Woman stabbed in Israel, attacker killed: police
More Stories From Pakistan
-
Saudi ministry warns against fraudulent Hajj schemes; urges vigilance, official channels for booking
3 hours ago -
SC to take up 9 identical petitions regarding judges' letter
3 hours ago -
Woman committed suicide in Pindigheb
3 hours ago -
Teenage girl abducted in Hassanabdal
3 hours ago -
NTDC Super 8 Inter-Departmental Tape Ball Cricket Tournament concludes: GM (HR) team clinches the w ..
4 hours ago -
AJK President calls for overseas Kashmiris' proactive role to expose the Modi government's nefarious ..
4 hours ago
-
AJK-wide campaign begins to vanish black-tinted glasses to all sorts of vehicles
4 hours ago -
Islamabad to be digitalized as pilot project under national digitalization plan: IT Minister
4 hours ago -
HEC reviews curricula for environmental sciences degree programme
4 hours ago -
Heavy rains cause damage to Spezand-Taftan railway track
4 hours ago -
Documentary on life of Jamiluddin Aali screened at embassy
4 hours ago -
"Sindh Theater Festival 2024" commences in Larkana
4 hours ago