Untitled - WWF - Pakistan

Detailed Ecological Assessment Report 2008 – Keenjhar Lake
Figure 4 shows the number of species that fall under two local status categories
i.e. common, less concern and common. Most of the species came under
common (10 in summer and 9 in winter) followed by less frequent (4 in summer
and 1 in winter).
Figure 4 – Distribution of small mammal status over the species and season at
Keenjhar Lake
No. of species
10
8
6
4
2
0
Summer Winter
Common
Less common
3.2.6 Threats and recommendations
3.2.5.1 Threats
• Coal mining and the associated disturbance near Chul is removing or
degrading the habitat of species such as Little Indian field-mouse and
Cairo spiny-mouse;
• Extraction of stone and quarrying around the lake peripheries are
destroying the habitat of many of the non-burrowing species.
• The Jogi, Bheel and Bar communities are involved in trapping small
mammal species, especially Desert Hare and Indian Porcupine;
• The current heightening of the lakes embankment is increasing the
disturbance of the area. It is also envisaged that increased water levels
will also increase the water-logging of adjacent areas resulting in flooding
of burrowing mammal habitats.
3.2.5.2 Recommendations
• The relevant authorities should ensure that any illegal mining is stopped
(Keenjhar Lake is a designated Wildlife Sanctuary). If these activities are
to be carried out then they should be only in prescribed areas and that
some areas are left undisturbed from any such activity;
• The Sindh Wildlife Department should strictly enforce the wildlife act and
discourage the hunting of small mammals. Alternatively, community
managed game reserves could be initiated and hunting of such species
could be brought under licensing controlled by the local communities
which in turn with provide financial incentives for community to protect
wildlife;
WWF Pakistan – Indus for All Programme Page 42 of 165