Khunjerab National Park - 10 Facts You Must Know About Pakistan's Third Largest National Park [4K]

Khunjerab National Park - 10 Facts You Must Know About Pakistan's Third Largest National Park [4K]

Khunjerab National Park, one of the highest altitude parks in the world, provides the habitat for a number of endangered and threatened species like the Snow leopard, Marco Polo sheep, and Himalayan ibex.
Located to the extreme north of Hunza District in Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan. The high-altitude national park spreads over an area of 4,445 sq kms making it country's third largest park. This park was established on 29 April 1975 by the late Zulfikar Ali Bhutto on the recommendation of Wildlife biologist Dr. George Schaller, to protect rare and unique species of the Pamir and Tibetan Plateau.

Khunjerab Pass (elevation 4,693 metres or 15,397 feet) is a high mountain pass in the Karakoram Mountains in a strategic position on the northern border of Pakistan and on the southwest border of China. The Khunjerab Pass is the highest paved international border crossing in the world and the highest point on the Karakoram Highway. The long, relatively flat pass is often snow-covered during the winter season and as a consequence is generally closed for heavy vehicles from November 30 to May 1 and for all vehicles from December 30 to April 1. This is one of the international borders where left-hand traffic (Pakistan) changes to right-hand traffic (China) and vice versa. Moreover, it has the highest ATM in the world on the Pakistani side.

Wildlife: The primary purpose of setting up of this park was to provide protection to the endangered Marco polo sheep, which is only found in this area in Pakistan. According to the Mir of Hunza, the population was around 400 but had dropped to below 180 by the time of the completion of the Karakoram Highway. A herd of almost 75 Marco Polo sheep was recorded in the spring of 1984 and park staff saw at least 50 crossing the Pass in May 1989. The park is also famous for its Snow Leopards. Some reports say that it might contain the highest density of these beautiful cats in the total Himalayan ecosystem which is the natural habitat of these cats. Over 2,000 Siberian ibex, widely distributed and abundant in the park but absent from neighbouring China are also present here.

Mammals: Total species: 16
Mammals in the park include------- Snow leopard (T), Himalayan Ibex (C), Brown bear (T), Tibetan red fox (C), Tibetan wolf (T), Blue Sheep (in Shimshal area only) (V), Marcopolo Sheep (T), Tibetan wild ass or Kiang (Unconfirmed reports) (?), Ermine (C), Alpine weasle (?), Stone Martin (C), Golden Marmot (C), Lynx (Unconfirmed reports) (?), Large-eared Pika (C), Dhole (Unconfirmed reports) (?), Cape hare (C), Common field mouse (C), Royle's mountain vole (C), Lesser shrew (C) and Migratory hamster (C).
Note: T=Threatened, V=Vulnerable, R=Rare, C=Common, ?=Unknown.

Birds:
Total species: 66
Common birds in the park are---- Lammegier vulture, Golden eagle, Himalayan griffon vulture, Eurasian black vulture, Marsh harrier, Eurasian sparrow hawk, Eurasian kestrel, Lesser kestrel, Saker falcon, Peregrine falcon, Himalayan Snow cock, Snow partridge, Chukar, Grey heron, Common sandpiper, Hill pigeon, Snow pigeon, Northern eagle owl, Eurasian cuckoo, Common swallow, Magpie, Alpine cough and Raven.

Source: http://www.wildlifeofpakistan.com/Pro...

Camera Gear:

Sony A7-III with Sony 16-35 Lens
DJI Mavic Air 2
GoPro Hero 9 Black

Date of Visit: 13.04.2021

Location on Google Maps:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/YBTNoFXKNCUY8...

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