Ministry suggests including Markhor, Indus Dolphin in ‘Endangered’ category

Islamabad : The Ministry of Climate Change is preparing first-ever Red Data List in coordination with relevant stakeholders and initial studies suggest that national animal Markhor and world’s rarest Indus Dolphin are expected to be included in the ‘Endangered’ category despite introduction of various steps to provide maximum protection to these species.

According to the official data, some 50 wildlife scientists, biodiversity experts, researchers and conservationists will contribute in preparation of the Red Data List that will serve as the most comprehensive inventory of the wildlife plants, animals and other organisms of global importance.

Inspector General Forest Muhammad Suleyman Khan Warraich who is behind this initiative told this correspondent that the organisations working in the private sector are also providing assistance and guidelines and at the end it would be a joint venture to protect and conserve endangered species in the country.

He said comeback of the Markhor population in Pakistan represents success on multiple levels but habitat loss and competition for resources with domestic grazers are still hampering increase in its population at certain levels.

Similarly, many centres have been set up to conserve blind Indus dolphins in Indus River from Sukkur to Guddu and from Guddu to Kotri and still this species faces extinction due to which it is likely to be included into ‘Endangered’ category in the Red Data List.

He further said after preparation of the Red Data List, the ministry would formulate policies on the basis of the information involving range, population size, habitat, ecology, threats and conservation to ensure protection of endangered species in Pakistan.

Deputy Director at Climate Change Ministry Muhammad Saleem said Red Data List would greatly help protect and conserve wildlife species especially those that are at heightened risk of extinction.

“We are working on modern lines and all experts and researchers have already been imparted capacity-building training to get best possible results. The Red Data List will also help evaluate the positive impact of the policies introduced to protect endangered species like Markhor and blind Indus Dolphins,” he said.