A team from the DI Khan Wildlife Division has successfully completed the first-ever wildlife and habitat survey in South Waziristan District.

“The five-day survey was carried out jointly with the support and cooperation of different departments, including the Pakistan Forest Institute (PFI), WWF-Pakistan, the Zoological Survey of Pakistan (ZSP) and the Museum of Natural History of Pakistan (PMNH), ”DFO Wildlife Khan Malook mentioned.

Speaking to APP here on Thursday, Khan Malook said based on a survey in southern Waziristan, action will be taken to protect wildlife and their habitats in areas rich in biodiversity, including Koh -e-Suleman, Ladha, Makeen and Shwal. The survey was scheduled as part of the flagship Ten Billion Tree Tsunami Wildlife Program and was completed in five consecutive days, Malook told APP.

All of the investigative team members worked diligently and dedication throughout the process and completed the task according to schedule.

On the first day of the survey, from DI Khan to Drazinda and the FR-Sherani area, members of the survey team observed a number of birds, animals, planes, reptiles and amphibians, added Khan Malook. The team also inspected various species of flora and fauna in Koh-e-Suleman and its adjacent areas, he said.

The whole area has proven to be very productive from a biodiversity point of view and the survey will prove to be very successful, he hoped.

During the visit to the Gomal Zam dam site, a meeting was also held with the head of the border crops unit, Maj Rizwan Ullah Cheema and discussed with him the protection of wildlife in general and birds. migrating to the site in particular.

Khan Malook said that during his visit to Toi Khulla, Gull Katch and Zarmilana, a number of species, including sailfish, chakors, partridges, steppe eagles, ducks and various other birds, have been seen on the way.

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On the way to Angor Adda, the area was found inhabited by juniper forests. The forest was thick and inhabited by various species of plants, birds, reptiles and animals. Additional plant specimens were also observed that had not been collected before. The region was too rich to compare to the humid temperate forests of northern KP, observed Khan Malook. On the last day of the survey, the teams visited the Lower Sholam at the start of the Mehsud area, which is covered with Quercus Pure forests, a mixture of Chilghoza pine and the presence of Cedrus deodara. The region was rich in biodiversity with excellent cover of rather pristine forests due to the declining population in the region and the tight control of the Pakistani armed forces. No hunting and even free roaming was allowed, as discussed with CF personnel. The staff went deep into the forest and collected worrying data, including plants, animals, reptiles and birds. Khan Malook expressed hope that the survey results will help protect this biodiversity-rich region providing habitat for large numbers of birds and animals.

Posted in The Express Tribune, October 30^e, 2021.