Current World Environment

Introduction

The present studies were undertaken in some important areas for reptiles in Sindh viz. Khirthar Protected Area Complex (KPAC) and in Jhimpir area (Thatta District). The Khirthar Protected Areas Complex (KPAC) stretches over 4,350 km², encompassing the Protected Areas (PAs) that lie in Kohistan area in the southwest of Sindh and it comprises of Khirthar National Park (KNP), the Mahal Kohistan (MKWS) and Hub Dam Wildlife Sanctuaries (HDWS), and the Surjan, Sumbak, Eri, and Hothiano Game Reserves (SGR).The KNP, MKWS, and HDWS were notified on January 31, 1974. The Park stretches over 3,087 km², while the MKWS and the HDWS cover 705.7 km² and 272 km², respectively. The SGR was established in June 1976 over an area of 285.3 km². The KPAC is significant for its sizeable indigenous settlements, rugged terrain, valuable flora and mineral resources, and a number of important wildlife species such as the Sindh Ibex, Urial, and Chinkara, Houbara Bustard, Gray Partridge, See-see Partridge and Birds of Prey. Archeologically significant sites include the tombs in Taung, the fort of Rannikot, and the fossils and petrified forests of the Khirthar Range. In addition to these sites, field surveys were also made in some selected potentially important localities in Darawat Dam Area (District Jamshoro) and Jhimpir Wind Corridor area (District Thatta) and data were collected in respect of reptiles of the area, particularly the Indian Spiny-tail Lizard, and the Monitor Lizards. Previous studies made on the reptilian fauna of the area include: Minton (1966), University of Melbourne (2000), Mirza (2002), Khan (2006), Khan et al. (2012, 2012a), Environmental Management Consultants (2012), Begum et al. (2013, 2013a) and Hashmi et al. (2013).

Materials and Methods Study Areas

The main study areas for the present study which form most of the main components of entire Protected Area Complex include Khirthar National Park (Karchat Area and Khar Centre Area), Mahal Kohistan Wildlife Sanctuary, Surjan, Sumbak, Eri, and Huthiano Game Reserves These areas comprised of cliffs, peaks, canyons, stony foothills, rocky slopes; mountain streams/nullahs; stony shrub lands; riparian areas; plains; villages; agricultural areas; tombs and graveyards; and wetlands. Surveys were also undertaken in selected localities in Jhimpir area and in Darawat Dam Area. Inland Jhampir is located north to the Indus Delta on the right bank of River Indus and close to Keenjhar Lake. The area mainly constitutes an environment with undulating stony plain and scattered vegetation. Few patches of seasonal barani agriculture may also be seen which is cultivated during the rainy season. The stony plains are wintering habitat for many migratory birds including Sandgrouses, Houbara Bustard and some raptor species. A number of reptile species are found in the area which include Indian Spiny tailed Lizard, Indian Monitor, Desert Monitor, Indian Cobra, Saw-scaled Viper, Cheekered Keel back, Cliff Racer, Glossy bellied Racer and Pakistan Ribbon Snake. Darawat Dam is located near village Jhangri, 20km west of super Highway at about 135 km NW of Karachi. It is quite close to the Game Reserves areas in KPAC. 08 species of reptiles have been recorded from the area, the important ones being the Monitor Lizards (Begum et al.  2013). The following survey techniques were applied for collection of data regarding the occurrence and distribution of reptiles in the study areas.

Plot Searching

At each site, search was carried out to detect as many reptile species as possible within a circular central zone. This consisted of searching approximately 20 ha for a reasonable time and recording the species observed.

Night Observations

Transect Method was applied to record lizards and snakes with portable spotlight within transects of suitable length.

Turning of Stones and Rocks

Reptiles take shelter or hide themselves under the stones or rocks. In the day time surveys, stones or rotten fallen were turned over to record the presence of reptiles, if any.

Indirect Evidences

Evidences of finger or footprints, fecal pellets, tracks, burrows and tunnels were also collected to record the presence of various species. Information was also collected from the local wildlife staff and from the local communities of the study area.

Results and Discussion

Earlier data about the biodiversity of the area had been collected during the Environmental Study of KPAC in 2000 and 2012. Moreover, some data have also been collected through EIA studies undertaken in the Protected Areas included in the KPAC during the period 2008 – 2013 .Based on both studies, 36 species of reptiles were recorded from KNP (UoM, 2000).While, 38 species were reported from the KPAC during 2012 (EMC, 2012). During the present study, 41 species of reptiles comprising of 3 orders, 14 families and 04 groups have been recorded from the area (Tables 1, 2 and fig.1).

Table 1. Number of species of different groups of Reptiles recorded.

S. No.	Group	Number of Species
1.	Freshwater Turtles	02
2.	Marsh Crocodile	01
3.	Lizards	27
4.	Snakes	11

 

Figure 1: Species composition of the differentgroups of reptiles of the area   Click here to View figure

Table 2. Checklist of Reptiles of KPAC and Allied areas.

S. No.	Order	Family	Scientific Name	Common Name
1	Chelonia	Emydidae	Geoclemys hamiltonii	Yellow Spotted Mud Turtle
2	Chelonia	Emydidae	HardellaThurjii	Common River Turtle
3	Crocodilia	Crocodylidae	Crocodylus palustris	Marsh Crocodile
4	Squamata	Agamidae	Calotes versicolor	Indian Garden Lizard/ Common Tree Lizard
5	Squamata	Agamidae	Laudakia lirata	Yellow-headed Spotted Rock Agama
6	Squamata	Agamidae	Laudakia melanura	Black Rock Agama
7	Squamata	Agamidae	Laudakia nupta	Rock Agama
8	Squamata	Agamidae	Trapelus agilis	Brilliant Agama / Common Field Agama
9	Squamata	Agamidae	Trapelus megalonyx	Afghan Agama/ Ocellate Ground Agama
10	Squamata	Agamidae	Trapelus rubrigularis	Red- throated Agama
11	Squamata	Eublepharidae	Eublepharis macularius	Indian Fat-tailed Gecko
12	Squamata	Gekkonidae	Agamura persica	Persian Spider Gecko
13	Squamata	Gekkonidae	Cyrtopodion kachhensis	Warty Rock Gecko / Kutch Spotted Ground Gecko
14	Squamata	Gekkonidae	Cyrtopodion scabrum	Keeled Rock Gecko/ Common Tuberculate Ground Gecko
15	Squamata	Gekkonidae	Crossobamon orientalis	Sind or Yellow tailed Sand Gecko
16	Squamata	Gekkonidae	Hemidactylus brookii	Spotted Indian House Gecko / Spotted Barn Gecko
17	Squamata	Gekkonidae	Hemidactylus flaviviridis	Yellow bellied House Gecko
18	Squamata	Gekkonidae	Hemidactylus leschenaultia	Tree Bark Gecko
19	Squamata	Gekkonidae	Hemidactylus persicus	Persian House Gecko
20	Squamata	Gekkonidae	Hemidactylus triedrus	Blotched  House Gecko
21	Squamata	Gekkonidae	Teratolepis faciata	Flat-tail Gecko
22	Squamata	Gekkonidae	Tropiocolotes persicus	Persian Banded or Sind Dwarf Gecko
23	Squamata	Lacertidae	Acanthodactylus cantoris	Indian Fringe-toed Lizard or Bartailed Sand Lizard
24	Squamata	Lacertidae	Mesalina watsonana	Long tailed Desert Lacerta / Spotted Lacerta
25	Squamata	Lacertidae	Ophisops jerdoni	Punjab Snake –eyedLizard / Rogose Spectacled Lacerta
26	Squamata	Scincidae	Eurylepis taeniolatus	Yellow – bellied Mole Skink/ Common Mole Skink
21	Squamata	Scincidae	Novoeumeces blythianus	Orange tail Skink
27	Squamata	Scincidae	Ophiomorous tridactylus	Indian Sand Swimmer
28	Squamata	Uromastycidae	Saara hardwickii	Indian Spiny tailed Lizard
29	Squamata	Varanidae	Varanus bengalensis	Indian Monitor
30	Squamata	Varanidae	Varanus griseus	Desert Monitor
31	Squamata	Typhlopidae	Ramphotyphlops braminus	Brahminy Blind Snake
32	Squamata	Typhlopidae	Typhlops ductuliformes	Slender Blind Snake
33	Squamata	Boidae	Eryx johnii	Common Sand Boa
34	Squamata	Colubridae	Platyceps rhodorachis	Cliff Racer
35	Squamata	Colubridae	Platyceps ventromaculatus	Glossy bellied Racer/ Plains Racer
36	Squamata	Colubridae	Psammophis candanura	Indian Sand Snake
37	Squamata	Colubridae	Psammophis leithii	Sindh Ribbon Snake
38	Squamata	Colubridae	Spalerosophis diadema	Blotched  Diadem Snake/ Royal Snake
39	Squamata	Elapidae	Bungarus caeruleus	Common Krait
40	Squamata	Elapidae	Naja naja	Black Cobra
41	Squamata	Viperidae	Echis carinatus	Saw scaled Viper

Key Sites

22 sites in the study area have been identified as sites of potential importance for the reptiles (Table 3). Out of these, the most important ones are the Khar Centre, Mahal Kohistan Wildlife Sanctuary, Darawat Dam Area and the sites earmarked for installation of Wind Power Plants in the Jhimpir Wind Corridor (District Thatta).

Table 3. Important Areas for Reptiles.  

S. No.	Important Areas	Co-ordinates
1	Area near Dargah Fakir Muhammad Ali         (Sandy, Grassy Plain),KPAC	25 43 07.7 N67 50 34.0 E
2	Area near Goth Rahu Chang, Jhimpir	25 08 01.0 N67 59 55.1 E
3.	Area near Goth Waryaam Palari, Jhimpir	25 06 56.9 N67 47 12.6 E
4	Darawat Dam Area	25 24 38.0 N67 56 37.4 E
5	Goran/ Garr, Thano Ahmed Khan(Sandy Area)	25 24 41.6 N67 39 06.1 E
6	Gambokh Water Point, KPAC	25 26 51.0 N67 34 07.0 E
7	Hub Dam (Crocodile Point)	25 19 57.7 N67 10 34.4 E
8	Halalo Pachraan (Sandy, Rocky Plain Area) , KPAC	25 14 23.0 N67 26 10.7 E
9	Khar Centre	25 19 59.3 N67 10 32.6 E
10	Kallogoth Naddi, Malir District	25 07 54.9 N67 47 52.6 E
11	Lailaanwari Boothi, near Rano Jabal, KPAC	25 42 38.0 N67 42 55.0 E
12	Mole Shareef (Flat Plain Area) , KPAC	25 27 42.3 N67 25 54.1 E
13	Mithrhi Area (Vegetation Area) , KPAC	25 24 55.8 N67 42155.4 E
14	Moidan, Plain Area,Khar Center	25 25 26.5 N67 13 30.8 E
15	Near Dargah Usman Shah, on road to Dureji (Flat Plain Area)-	25 22 53.2 N67 12 35.9 E
16	Indian Spiny-tailed Lizard habitat Jhimpir area Near Haji Lakhano Goth / Shailee Chang Goth (Sandy Plain Area)	25 09 21.7 N67 57 24.1 E
17	Near Bachani Sub- Centre , KPAC	25 32 00.2 N67 50 08.7 E
18	Near Eri Game Reserve	25 33 18.9 N67 52 20.5 E
19	Near Mohd. Siddiq Sehtani Village (Water Point/ Rocky Area), KPAC	25 55 03.0 N67 39 43.0 E
20	Sumbak Game Reserve	25 24 42.0 N67 52 56.4 E
21	Thano Bula Khan	25 20 49.5 N67 50 48.0 E
22	Uth Palaan Area (Nullah, Rocky sides, Sandy Flood Plain), KPAC	25 11 58.5 N67 30 01.1 E

Most of the Protected Area provides suitable habitat for the reptiles. Five species of reptiles were found to be quite common in the area. These include: Common Tree Lizard, Sind Sand Gecko, Indian Spiny tailed Lizard, Desert Monitor and Saw- scaled Viper.

Status of Reptiles

As regards the threats to the reptiles in the area, only recently the Indian Fat-tailed Gecko has been found to be nearly wiped out of the area due to its commercial value and its large scale capture for trade. Moreover, there are potential threats to the Monitor Lizards and Indian Spiny-tailed Lizard due to developmental activities in Darawat Dam Area (District Jamshoro) and also in Jhimpir Wind Corridor Area (District Thatta) on account of Wind Power Projects being launched in the area. Marsh Crocodile and the Crowned River Turtle are the Vulnerable Species of the area and these were recorded from Hub Dam Reservoir (District Karachi). Marsh Crocodile and the Monitor Lizards have been declared totally protected species against hunting and shooting etc under the Sind Wildlife Protection Ordinance 1972. Five species of reptiles have been identified as Species of Special Conservation Interest which include Marsh Crocodile, Indian Spiny-tailed Lizard, Indian Monitor, Desert Monitor and Indian Fat-tailed Gecko.

Priority Actions

The following conservation measures have been suggested for saving the reptiles of the area against potential threats:

1. Monitoring of the populations of Indian Fat-tailed Gecko, Indian Monitor, Desert Monitor and Indian Spiny tailed Lizard.
2. Encouraging and supporting the private sector for captive breeding of monitor Lizards and Indian Fat-tailed Gecko due to their commercial value.
3. Safeguarding the key habitats of Indian Spiny-tailed Lizards particularly in Thatta District.

Figure 2: Photographs of Key Reptilian Species of the Area  Click here to View figure

 

Figure 3: Indian Monitor Lizard  Click here to View figure

 

Figure 4: Fat-tailed Gecko    Click here to View figure

Acknowledgement

Thanks are due to Mr. Ghulam Sarwar Jamali, Assistant Conservator, Sindh Wildlife Department and his staff particularly m/s Mobin, Azam, Ramzan, Abdul Hafeez and Dad Mohammad for their help in the field surveys in the Mahal Kohistan Wildlife Sanctuary and four Game Reserves. The authors are indebted to Dr. Syed Atiqur Rahman, Mr. Mustafa Matloob, Ms. Tasneem Bhatti and Ms. Fizza Qureshi for their support in the field.

References
 

1. Minton, S.A. 1996. A Contribution to the Herpetology of West Pakistan. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. 134:24-184.
2. University of Melbourne. 2000. Environmental Baseline of Khirthar National Park. (Unpublished Report)
3. Mirza, Z. B. 2002. A Pocket Guide to Khirthar National Park and its adjoining protected areas. PKP exploration Limited, Islamabad.
4. Khan, M.S. 2006. Amphibians and Reptiles of Pakistan. Kriegar Publishing Company, Malabar, Florida. pp. 311.
5. Khan, M.Z., Begum, A., Ghalib. S.A., Khan, A.R., Yasmeen, R., Siddqui, T.F.,
6. Zehra, A., Abbas, D., Tabassum, F., Siddqui, S.,Jabeen, T. and Hussain, B. 2012. Effects of Environmental Pollution on Aquatic Vertebrate Biodiversity and Inventories of Hub Dam: Ramsar Sites. Canadian Journal of Pure and Applied Science. 6(2): 1913 - 1935.
7. Khan, M.Z., Abbas, D., Ghalib. S.A, Siddqui. S., Siddiqui, T. F., Farooq, Yasmeen. R., Yasmeen, G. Abbas D. and Zehra, A. 2012a. Current Status and Distribution of Reptiles of Sindh. Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences.8 (1): 26 – 34.
8. Environmental Management Consultants (EMC). 2012. Environmental Baseline of Khirthar Protected Area Complex (KPAC). (Unpublished Report).
9. Begum, A., Ghalib, S.A., Zehra, A.,Khan, A. R. and Tabassum, F. 2013. A Qualitative Study of the Wildlife of Darawat Dam, Thatta District, Sindh, Pakistan. International Journal of Advanced Research. 1 (7): 202 – 206. Begum, A., Khan, M. Z., Ghalib, S.A., Khan, A, R., Zehra, A., Hussain, B., Siddiqui,S. and Tabbassum, F. 2013a.  Current Status of Mammals and Reptiles at Hub Dam Area, Sindh / Balochistan, Pakistan. Current World Environment Vol. 8(3):395-402.
10. Hashmi, M. U. A., Khan, M.Z., Amtiyaz, and Huda, N. 2013. Current Status, and Distribution and Threats of Varanus species (Varanus bengalensis and V. griseus) in Karachi and Thatta of Sindh. Int. J. Fauna and Biological Studies.       1(1): 34 – 38.