EXPLORATION AND SURVEY OF FAUNAL RESOURCES.

Pakistan is gifted with a variety of natural habitat that provide food, shelter and breeding places for different types of wild animals including migratory birds from distant areas for wintering. But destruction of natural habitat and ruthless killing of animals have greatly damaged the wildlife. Consequently many species are on the verge of extinction that were common few decades back, while some species have been exterminated. Considering the vastness of the country studying the entire fauna of the country is a difficult task. Zoological Survey Department is trying to take up extensive surveys of the country for its wildlife by restoring to province wise explorations. These surveys will identify that faunal gaps and what additional data is to be needed.

The following strategy will be evolved to take up the task.

First Priority Areas

1) Hot spots/Faunistically rich habitats.
2) Study of Fragile Ecosystem vulnerable to change.

These will cover Mountainous, Deserts, Indus Delta and Riverine Forest Ecosystems.

Second Priority Areas

1) Taxonomic studies.
Department have taken the task to clear the backlog of the reserve collection. Presently work has been started in collaboration with Karachi University. The work will continue on reserve collection and new collection will also be added regularly.

2) Baseline study of protected Areas

There are 227 protected area in Pakistan but very few scientific and baseline studies are available. ZSD planned to take up the task with provincial wildlife departments with the objective to better management of these areas.

3) Study of freshwater ecosystems in Indus plain.

About 70% of the Migratory waterfowls bank on these wetlands. Sever drought, population pressure, pollution and other factors have changed the ecology of these wetlands. A detail study an ecology and Biodiversity will help to advise a strategy for better management of these wetlands.

4) Maintenance and Strengthening National Zoological collection.

As Guardian of NZC it is the duty of the department to put maximum efforts in this field. Department has evolved a strategy to take up the task seriously. Maintenance and development techniques shall be modernized.

DATA BANK

ZSD is nucleus of zoological related activities in the country. So it is purposed that a central computerized database of the animal life of the country be establish at ZSD. Besides that record of Zoological collections and Library of the department may also be computerized in order to provide quicker and more efficient system of data storage and retrieval offered by computer technology.