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Khunjerab National Park |
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FACT FILE: |
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Geographical Location: |
34*44'N
75*17'E |
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Physical
Location: |
on
Pakistan/China border in Karakoram Mountains |
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Total
Area: |
226,913 hectares |
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Date
Established: |
1975 |
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Best Time
to Visit: |
April to October |
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Maps: |
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Khunjerab
Khunjerab
National Park the gateway to China via the Karakoram Highway, is Pakistan's third largest National Park.
Khunjerab National Park begins 30
kilometers (19 miles) from Sost. As the hills move back from the road, the
valley opens out and the Khunjerab River dwindles to a tiny mountain stream
with the odd tuft of grass, willow or birch alongside its banks.
Khunjerab pass is at 4,934m. Over
half of the park is above 4,000m. The park is adjacent to Tashgukan
Natural Reserve (1,400,000ha) in China. 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.
Wildlife:
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 neighboring China are
also present here.
Mammals:
Mammals in the park include------- Snow leopard , Himalayan Ibex , Brown
bear , Tibetan red fox , Tibetan wolf ,
Blue Sheep (in Shimshal area only) , Marcopolo Sheep ,
Tibetan wild ass or Kiang (Unconfirmed reports) , Ermine ,
Alpine weasle , Stone Martin , Golden Marmot ,
Lynx (Unconfirmed reports) , Large-eared Pika , Dhole (Unconfirmed reports)
, Cape hare , Common field mouse , Royle's mountain vole , Lesser shrew
and Migratory hamster .
Birds: 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.