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Detailed Ecological Assessment Report 2008 – Keenjhar Lake
found on or near the wetland habitats. Among the threatened species, the Blackbellied
tern which is a near threatened species was recorded. On the nearby
wetland called Jhol Dhand, some important species such as Greater flamingo,
Pallid Harrier, Common Kestrel, Imperial Eagle, Steppe Eagle and Chestnut
bellied sandgrouse were recorded. A total of 13,419 birds from the area were
recorded. The major threats to the birds of the area particularly the water-birds
are large scale disturbance and hunting activities over the lake. Fishing and birds
nets were also found in the lake.
3.4.7 Threats and recommendations
3.4.7.1 Threats
• There is eutrophication in the northern and western side of the lake as a
result there is heavy growth of Typha and Phragmites along with exotic
plant species which may be changing the habitat preferred by certain
birds e.g. waders.
• Excavation of building material and quarrying is common on the banks of
the lake. This is causing a high level of disturbance especially to shore
birds. Both wintering and breeding activities may be affected by this
activity;
• Likewise, the disturbance caused by tourism activities on the lake may
can be causing the birds to migrate to other less-disturbed areas or move
to other water bodies;
• Hunting and trapping of birds is very common is most areas of the lake,
hunting of birds by hunters with guns and trapping of birds for sale on the
roadside is probably one of the largest causes in bird population decline at
the lake over the last few years
• There is lack of solid waste management and general quality of the lake
may be declining, which may have a knock on affect to wintering and
breeding birds that inhabit the lake
• The Sindh Wildlife Department has very staff at the lake to patrol and
tackle this issue of hunting and trapping.
3.4.6.2 Recommendations
• There is a need for a conservation management plan for the long-term
administration the lake, which is also a Wildlife Sanctuary and Ramsar
site.
• Jhampir, Ameer peer and Daulat pur areas of the lake should be
developed for ecotourism so that communities can get a direct benefit
from the lake and therefore feel a vested interest in the conservation of
the area. Eco-tourism would depend heavily on the presence of both bird
diversity and sizable populations
• There is a need to establish an information centre and research
conservation centre. Sign boards on the public areas and roads need to
be placed to indicate the limits of Wildlife Sanctuary and importance of the
wetland as a Ramsar site.
3.5 Freshwater fisheries
3.5.1 Species account
A total of 55 species were recorded from Keenjhar Lake comprising of 9 Orders
(Beloniformes, Channiformes, Clupeiformes, Cypriliformes, Mugiliformes,
Osteoglossiformes, Perciformes, Siluriformes and Synbranchiformes) and 14
families. Table 15 below gives an account of each species recorded along with
ecological aspects.
WWF Pakistan – Indus for All Programme Page 55 of 165