The Land of a Thousand Treasures - Hazarganji Chiltan National Park , Balochistan, Pakistan - April 2008
An amazingly serene National Park located 20km south-west of Quetta city. One of the brest protected within Pakistan and one of the least known. An absolute nature lovers paradise. Habitats include steppe, mountains, scrub forest.
Hazar means a thousand and ganji means treasures - this park is truly a thousand treasures if not more. It is one of the most vegetates zones within the region - if livestock grazing would be controlled in other nearby areas then they would not look as barren as they do now.
Its a spendid plce to spend the day and its serenity and eerieness is something that will stay with you forever. However,nowadays there is a security issue within the region and the wildlife department in Quetta may not provide you a pass to go inside for your own safety.
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.
Comments
The Land of a Thousand Treasures - Hazarganji Chiltan National Park , Balochistan, Pakistan - April 2008
An amazingly serene National Park located 20km south-west of Quetta city. One of the brest protected within Pakistan and one of the least known. An absolute nature lovers paradise. Habitats include steppe, mountains, scrub forest.
Hazar means a thousand and ganji means treasures - this park is truly a thousand treasures if not more. It is one of the most vegetates zones within the region - if livestock grazing would be controlled in other nearby areas then they would not look as barren as they do now.
Its a spendid plce to spend the day and its serenity and eerieness is something that will stay with you forever. However,nowadays there is a security issue within the region and the wildlife department in Quetta may not provide you a pass to go inside for your own safety.
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.
Comments