Wildlife Deptt Announces To Extend Survey For Further 5 Districts

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Oct, 2020 ) :The Wildlife Department have announced to commence survey for covering further five districts of Punjab including Jhelum, Chakwal, Attock, Mianwali and Khushab, aiming to assess population of Punjab Urial in above mentioned districts, said a climate change media spokesperson.

The ongoing wildlife survey aimed to assess population of Punjab Urial in Punjab and develop 'National Red Data Book' of Pakistan, he explained.

The 15-days survey would continue till October 25, 2020 which was rutting season of wildlife species while giving overview of wildlife species to be covered in the country's first Red Data Book.

He also highlighted various challenges for the survival of the Punjab Urial, saying the habitat fragmentation,degradation and loss has caused due to livestock grazing, construction of roads, dams, encroachment of wild area due to cultivation and other developmental activities, Illegal hunting for meat, trophies and poaching of lambs were among the key threats to the Punjab Urial and foremost causes of decline in its population.

He pointed out that there was presently little baseline data available which hardly provide any understanding about current status of the Punjab Urial species and which was a main bottleneck to its conservation and protection.

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