Deosai National Park FACT FILE: Geographical Location: Lat:****---Lon:**** Physical Location: South east of Skardu in the Karakoram range bordering India  Total Area: 3,58,400 hectares Date Established: ***** Best Time to Visit: March to September Maps: Click Here   Photo Credit: Unknown   Above the tree line and at an average height of 13,500 feet above sea level, the Deosai Plains are among the highest plateaus in the world. The Deosai Plains cover an area of almost 3,000 square kilometers. For just over half the year - between November and May - Deosai is snow-bound. In the summer months when the snow clears up, Deosai is accessible from Skardu in the north and the Astore Valley in the west.    Wildlife: Deosai Plains make up one of the last frontiers of natural habitat for the Himalayan brown bear, a creature that once roamed the mountains freely. The park currently has inbetween 20-28 Brown bears. This park was establised to protect these endangered bears. Recently a research project has started by Himalayan Wildlife Foundation (HWF) and the Northern Areas Forests, Parks, and Wildlife Department to secure the survival of the brown bear in the Deosai Plains and to monitor their population. The Deosai Plains are also home to the ibex, red fox, golden marmot, wolf, the Ladakh urial, the snow leopard, and a number of resident and migratory birds.   Mammals: Mammals in the park include--Brown bear (T), Snow leopard (T), Himalayan Musk deer (V) Golden marmot (C), Pika (C), Migratory hamster (?) and Ermine (C).   Note: T=Threatened, V=Vulnerable, R=Rare, C=Common, ?=Unknown.    Birds: Birds in the park are--Golden eagle, Lammagier vulture, Griffon vulture, Laggar falcon, Peregrine falcon, Kestrel, Indian sparrow hawk and Snow cock.   Credits: UNEP-WCMC Protected Areas Programme Picture Credits: Unknown   ©1997-2002 Wildife of Pakistan-All Rights Reserved.