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Detailed Ecological Assessment Report 2008 – Keti Bunder
3.1.6 Threats and recommendations
3.1.6.1 Threats
• Persecuted wildlife: Species such as jackal and jungle cats predate on
poultry and therefore locals shoot or trap these species whenever they get
the chance to;
• Food competition: Hundreds of feral dogs in the study area are not only
a problem for the local residents but also for the wild animals. These are
the major food competitors for most of the carnivore species in the area.
Wild animals like jungle cat, fishing cat, jackal etc. are facing threats from
the locals as they consider these as problem species. Feral dogs on the
contrary, having been sheltered by man, face no problems at all and thus
offer a real food competition for wild animals near human habitations as
well as away from them;
• Lack of awareness: Usually the general public is not familiar with the
wildlife, its positive role and ecological importance. Killing, hunting and
trapping of wild animals is the result of such unawareness and a hurdle in
wildlife conservation. Indian pangolin is a harmless animal but it is
considered a fearful animal and killed whenever encountered;
• Pollution: Excessive pollution in the creek system is resulting in the
unavailability of food for marine life as well as habitat degradation. The
creek system receives untreated upland runoff, coastal dumps and
domestic sewage which drain into creeks. Marine pollution mostly consists
of synthetic materials resistant to degradation in marine environment. The
oil and oil dispersants from the boats are also source of water pollution, all
of which affect the marine ecosystem;
• Entanglement of cetaceans in fishing gears: Dolphins and porpoises
are injured or killed when entangled in fishing gear. The fishermen don’t
try to rescue the dolphins when found entangled in their fishing nets and
often let them die. They are often struck down by the motor boats, causing
injury to the animal.
3.1.6.2 Recommendations
• Control on Feral dog population: Feral dog population at almost all the
sites of Indus for All Programme is dominating the wildlife species. At Keti
Bunder their population is almost double the population of livestock and
thus a permanent threat for wildlife as well as for man. There have been
few incidents of human deaths in the past due to dog bites (rabies) in Keti
Bunder. People usually keep the dogs for security reasons as well as
hunting purposes. But in Keti Bunder, most of the people do not need
dogs. Thus there should be a check on population of feral dogs in the
area.
• Awareness raising campaign: General public is not much familiar with
the wildlife and its ecological role. Therefore, there is a need for raising
awareness among the general public about the importance of wildlife and
its role in the ecosystem.
WWF Pakistan – Indus for All Programme Page 39 of 188