06/22/12
A brown bear family sighted in Hundrap, Ghizer
Link: http://pamirtimes.net/2012/06/22/a-brown-bear-family-sighted-hundrap-gilgit-baltistan/
A brown bear family sighted in Hundrap, Ghizer
Our Correspondent
Gilgit, June 21: The Snow Leopard Foundation, Pakistan, has said that a family of Brown Bear has been sighted in Hundrap area of Phandar, located in Ghizer District of Gilgit - Baltistan. According to a press statement members of an occupancy survey team sighted the Brown Bear family from an approximate distance of almost 100m.
The site occupancy survey in Pahndar was a two week activity to document occurrence of large carnivores, the press statement states, in which an area comprising of 51 grid cells (5 x 5 km each) were searched by six experienced researchers. The main localities surveyed included Langer, Barsit, Teru, Hundrab, Serbal and Chashi. The presence of brown bear, wolf, fox and ibex was confirmed in different parts of the area through their signs. Sighting of brown bear in Hundrab strengthened the evidences.
Gupis: The surveyors think that the population of the endangered Brown Bear in Hundrap might be very small. PR
10/30/09
Slaughter at Machiara
Link: http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/provinces/14-slaughter-at-machiara-zj-02
Slaughter at Machiara
Dawn Editorial
Friday, 30 Oct, 2009
Machiara National Park, Azad Kashmir. -Online Photo
Tuesday’s slaughter at Machiara National Park in Azad Kashmir must not go unnoticed. After spending the night as guests of a forest department official, a group of politically powerful people went on the rampage in a wildlife park that is protected under local and international law. Gunshots were heard throughout the day, according to area residents and wildlife department scouts.
10/27/09
Ibex killer disease identified
Link: http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/national/ibex-killer-disease-identified-709
Ibex killer disease identified
By Bhagwandas
Tuesday, 27 Oct, 2009 | 04:07 AM PST
KARACHI, Oct 26: A disease which has killed 62 Sindh Ibex since Sept 25 has been identified and remedial steps are being taken in the Khirthar protected area.
According to highly placed sources, experts from National Veterinary Laboratories in Islamabad visited the affected area and collected samples for DNA analysis. Tests revealed presence of Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) virus.
After identification of the disease, vaccines were brought from Quetta and a vaccination drive has been launched in the Khirthar National Park.
10/27/09
First leopard sighted at Margallas
Link: http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=205410
First leopard sighted at Margallas
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Mobarik A. Virk
Islamabad
The first sighting of a leopard on the Margalla hills was reported Monday evening when a trail-goer, Dr Khawar Randhawa, saw one healthy, apparently a male leopard only 100 meters from the car parking area at the foot of Trail-V opposite Judges Colony.
"I was a little bit early for my hike today and as I was returning to the base, towards the car parking, I saw this healthy-looking fully grown, brightly dotted leopard standing in the middle of the trail hardly a 100 meters away. The sight was exciting as the beast appeared unruffled or alarmed and at the same time it was fearsome to see the animal, known well for its ferocity, so close," Dr Khawar Randhawa told "The News"
10/27/09
Sindh govt probes CDGK ‘purchase’ of elephants
Link: http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/local/karachi-sindh-govt-probes-cdgk-purchase-of-elephants-409
Sindh govt probes CDGK ‘purchase’ of elephants
By Bhagwandas
Saturday, 24 Oct, 2009 | 03:41 AM PST
KARACHI, Oct 23: Taking cognizance of the irregularities allegedly committed by the city district government Karachi (CDGK) in what was described as the “procurement” of two donated elephants, the Sindh government has finally asked the CDGK for the relevant record to check violation of the prescribed rules, Dawn has learnt.
Sources said that the relevant record showed that an amount of about Rs20 million had been paid for the two elephants, which were, in fact, donated by Tanzania and no price had been charged.
10/25/09
14 more ibexes reported dead, toll reaches 62
Link: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009\10\25\story_25-10-2009_pg12_10
14 more ibexes reported dead, toll reaches 62
PPR virus responsible for disaster at Kirthar National Park
Text and photo by Amar Guriro
KARACHI: The ongoing disaster in the shape of viral diseases, which spread about a month ago among the animals of the protected Kirthar National Park, has worsened and 14 more ibexes have died in the last five days, raising the total death toll to 62 since September 25.
The results of the DNA test of the dead animals, which the Sindh Wildlife Department (SWD) had sent a couple of weeks ago to the Islamabad laboratory, revealed that the diseases were diagnosed as peste de petits ruminants (PPR), a virulent disease that spreads mostly among sheep and goats.
