Hazarganji Chiltan National Park: Quetta

Hazarganji Chiltan National Park:

Spread over 38,429 acres, Hazarganji Chiltan National Park, is another beautiful national park of Pakistan. "Hazarganji" literally means "Of a thousand treasures". In the folds of these mountains, legend has it, that, 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. 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.

This park was primarily established 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 hyena and Red fox.

Other mammals in the park include Indian wolf, Leopard, Caracal, Jackal, Red fox, Porcupine and Desert hare. 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 are some of the bird species found in the park.
Reptiles in the park include Monitor lizard, Russell's viper, Saw scaled viper and Spiny tailed lizard.

Facilities include a museum, picnic spots and accommodation in rest houses.

Wildlife:

This park was primarily established 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 2,1 00m. Carnivores include Stripped hyaena and Red fox.

Mammals:

Mammals in the park include—Chiltan wildgoat or Markhor (T), Suleiman Markhor , Urial sheep (Gad) (also now extinct), Indian wolf (R), Stripped hyena (V), Leopard (now extinct in the park but could recolonise - strange as the prey population in the park is now quite high), 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