mammalian fauna of the chagai desert and adjoining areas

Proc. Pakistan Acad. Sci. 47(1):19-24.2010MAMMALIAN FAUNA OF THE CHAGAI DESERT AND ADJOININGAREAS1Muhammad Rafique, 2 Muhammad Ali Nawaz, and 1 Muhammad Asif1Pakistan Museum of Natural History, Islamabad, Pakistan and 2 Department of Wildlife and Ecology, University ofVeterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, PakistanReceived November 2009, accepted January 2010Abstract: This study is the first ever attempt to document mammalian fauna of the Chagai Desert, based on trappings andsign surveys carried out in randomly selected sites in 2005 and 2008. We have updated records of mammalian distributionfor northwestern Balochistan, by documenting 23 mammalian species from the area. Majority of the recorded species werecommon and adaptable. The order Rodentia dominated the mammalian fauna, being represented by 11 species. Gerbillusgleadowi and Jaculus blanfordi were the most abundant species, followed by the Meriones libycus. Crossodura zarudnyi andMeriones crassus were relatively rare. Among large mammals only the adaptable species mammals such as fox and jackals werecommon. We report new records of some small mammalian species from the area viz., Calomyscus bailwardi, Rhombomysopimus and Girbillus gleadowi . The Asiatic cheetah inhabits the neighboring areas in Iran, however, no signs of its presencewere found in the study area. The occurrence of goitred gazelle was confirmed in areas close to Kirtika hills through signs andsightings. This species was previously thought to be extinct from Pakistan.Keywords: Chagai, Balochistan, mammals, Asiatic cheetah, Goitered gazelleIntroductionThe Chagai Desert extends for more than500 km to the northwestern side of Balochistanand the southern desert regions of Afghanistan.It is traversed by small and widely spacedmountain ranges in an open expand of basin.Small stones and sand dunes generally coverthis basin. Climate of the Chagai Desert rangesfrom extreme hot in the summer to severe coldin winter. The difference between day and nighttemperatures is also considerable and followsthe typical desert pattern. Since the area fallsoutside monsoon belt, rainfall is irregular andscanty. Topsoil erosion by winds is a prevailingphenomenon. Vegetation cover is very scarceand the area becomes drier towards west. Lowrainfall, long dry spells and windstorms makethe ecosystem highly fragile.The landscape features of an area affectthe mammalian distribution, as they are adaptedto specific habitats. Topographically, the areacould be distinguished into four kinds ofhabitats; mountains/hills, gravel plains, sandyplains and seasonal streambeds. The Ras Kohrange is the main mountain range, which standsout conspicuously on South and West of theChagai Desert. This range is 230 km long, 50km wide and its altitude varies from 1,500-3,000m and separates the Baddo River drainage fromthe Dalbandin Valley to the north. Further in thewest, it turns into a chain of low hills markedby a few craters of extinct volcanoes e.g., Kohi-Dalil (1,484 m), Damo Din (1,890 m) and Kohi-Sultan(2,332 m). The Chagai Hills in thewest are 130 km long, 50 km wide and havean altitude of 2,000-2,400 m. They have a widestretch of sand dunes along their northern slopesand are surrounded by a vast (20-24 km) fringeof coarse stony piedmont zone where this chainof hills is broken by water and wind gaps, thepiedmont zone is intermittently covered withlong and narrow sand dune ridges parallel tothe drainage. The main streams draining intothis basin are the Tahlab, Hamun Lora, HamunMashkel, Baddo stream and Rude-Mashkel. Animpressive radiating drainage pattern surroundsthe Koh-i-Sultan while a close-knit, dry anddendritic drainage network extends southwardinto Hamun-i-Mashkel or flows eastward intothe smaller Hamun-i-Lora.

Mammalian fauna: Chaghai desert 20Degradation of natural habitats and decline offaunal capital in Pakistan has been a rapid processin last few decades. This trend is also very muchvisible in Chagai Desert as it is a hunting area forArab dignitaries. Moreover, many mega projectslike exploration of gold, silver and Copper inSandak and Ricko Diq areas and extraction ofOnyx Chagai have probably contributed towardsthe degradation process. Despite these naturalchallenges and potential anthropogenic threats,there is limited information on the status anddiversity of mammalian fauna from the area.There are several studies in the desert regions ofPakistan [1-16] which describe general diversityand distribution pattern of mammals. However,information specific to the Chagai Desert is notavailable. This study aimed at documentingactual diversity and status of mammals in thearea.Materials and MethodsThe data for this study were collected throughtrapping and sign surveys carried out in ChaghiDesert in three phases. The first survey wasconducted in October 2005, second in May 2008,and final one in November 2008. Sherman andsnap traps were used for the small mammals.A mixture of rice and wheat grains, sunflowerand coriander seeds, oats and onion all mixedwith peanut butter was used as bait for Shermantraps. The traps were checked on the next day asearly as possible and the trapped specimens wereidentified and released. Necessary relevant dataas date of trap setting, date of collection, habitat,location, weather conditions etc., were recordedat the spot on a data sheet. Catch rates werecalculated as the number of individuals captured/species/100 trap nights, and these were used asan index of relative abundance (17).The large mammals are mostly nocturnal andavoid any visual contact. Their record, therefore,was mainly based on indirect observations suchas foot tracks, feces, and dens. Sign survey siteswere selected randomly, and at each site one-hoursearch was carried out to detect any sign of largemammals. A portable spotlight was used duringnight survey to scan the area along the selectedtracks and to spot nocturnal mammals. Thenocturnal surveys were conducted in transects ofapproximately 5 to 15 km length. The data wassupplemented with the information available inthe literature, and information was also collectedfrom local people and wildlife officials. Based onsightings and signs of mammals in the area, theirabundance was categorized as; rare, common,abundant.ResultsTwenty three species of mammals wererecorded from the Chagai Desert (Table 1).Among these, 13 species belong to smallmammals and the rest to the large mammals.One species, Canis lupus, is included in CITESAppendix I, two species in the Appendix II (Felismargarita, Vulpes cana), and two in AppendixIII (Canis aureus, Vulpes vulpes). One species,Gazella subgutterosa, is endangered, two datadeficit (Vulpes rueppelli, Vulpes cana), one isnear threatened (Felis margarita) while the restare lower risk species according to the IUCNconservation status. Based on the country’sconservation status, two species (Felis margarita,Gazella subgutterosa) are critically endangered,one (Canis lupus) endangered, three (Vulpesrueppelli, Gazella benitti, Lepus capensis)vulnerable and four (Vulpes vulpes, Vulpes cana,Gerbillus gleadowi, Rhombomys opimus,) arenear threatened (Table 1).The catch rates of small mammals in ChagaiDesert (Table 2), suggest that the Gerbillusgleadowi and Jaculus blanfordi were the mostabundant species with trapping success of 23.08and 18.46%, respectively, whereas Meriones

21 M. Rafique et al.Table 1. List of the Mammalian fauna found in the Chagai Desert and adjoining areas.Sr.NosSpecies CommonnamePreferred Habitat IUCN Status CITESStatusDistribution in Chagai1 Crossodurazarudnyi2 Paraechinushypomelas3 Hemiechinuscollaris4 PipisttrelluskuhliiDesert shrewMigratoryHedgehogHedgehogKuhl’sPipistrelleDry beds withvegetationAround the humansettlementsSmall dry Hillocksnear patches ofvegetationStatus inChagaiLower Risk (lc) - Dalbandin, Chagai RareLower Risk (lc) - Dalbandin, Chagai CommonLower Risk (lc) - Naushki CommonAgricultural areas Lower Risk (lc) - Naushki, Dalbandin Common5 Canis lupus Indian wolf Hilly tracts Lower Risk (lc) Appendix I Naushki, Dalbandin Rare6 Canis aureus Asiatic Jackal Agricultural areasnear settlementsLower Risk (lc)Appendix III(India)Naushki, DalbandinAbundant7 Felis margarita Sand Cat Sand dune areas NearThreatened8 Vulpes rueppelli Sand Fox Sand dune areas Data Deficient(DD)Appendix II Naushki, Chagai Rare- Naushki, Ricko Diq Rare9 Vulpes vulpes Common RedFoxHilly tracts Lower Risk (lc) Appendix III(India)Naushki, DalbandinAbundant10 Vulpes cana King Fox Hilly areas around thesettlementsData Deficient(DD)Appendix II Dalbandin, Chagai Rare11 GazellasubgutterosaGoitredGazelleNarrow valleys inbarren mountainranges12 Lepus capensis Cape hare Vegetation patchesalong dry rivulets13 SalpingotusmichaelisBalochistanpygmy Jerboa14 Allactaga elater Small FivetoedJerboa15 Allactaga hotsoni Hotson’sFive-toedjerboa16 Jaculus blanfordi Greater threetoedjerboa17 Calomyscusbailwardi18 Gerbillusgleadowi19 GerbluscheesmaniMouse-likehamsterIndian Hairyfooted gerbilCheesman’sgerbilEndangered - Kirtika check post northwestof NaukundiRareLower Risk (lc) - Naushki, Dalbandin CommonSand dune areas Lower Risk (lc) - Naushki, Chagai CommonHard flat land Lower Risk (lc) - TaftanNaukundi, Dalbandin,Naushki,CommonVicinity of sand dunes Lower Risk (lc) - Chagai, Naushki CommonDry flat land Lower Risk (lc) - Naushki and Dalbandinarea AbundantDry Rocky hills above1500 mDry stream beds withbushy vegetationDry stream beds withbushy vegetationLower Risk (lc) - Chagai Hills, Barsilani areanorth of DalbandinLower Risk (lc) - Ricko Diq and Humai area ofNaukundiCommonAbundantLower Risk (lc) - Northwestern Chagai Common20 Tatera indica Indian gerbil Deep alluvial hard soil Lower Risk (lc) - Naushki area Common21 Meriones libycus Libyan jird Sand stone Hills along Lower Risk (lc) - Bar Aab Chah area of Commonthe streamsDalbandin22 Meriones crassus Sundevalls’jird23 RhombomysopimusBanks of agriculturalfieldsLower Risk (lc) - Dalbandin RareGreat gerbil Flat hard soil Lower Risk (lc) - Ricko Diq, Naukundi Common

Mammalian fauna: Chaghai desert 22Table 2. Trapping success and relative abundance of small mammal species in Chagai Desert,Balochistn.Species No. of Specimens No. per 100 Traps % of TrappingCrossodura zarudnyi 2 0.47 3.08Salpingotus michaelis 3 0.70 4.62Allactaga elater 4 0.93 6.15Allactaga hotsoni 5 1.16 7.69Jaculus blanfordi 12 2.79 18.46Calomyscus bailwardi 4 0.93 6.15Gerbillus gleadowi 15 3.49 23.08Tatera indica 3 0.70 4.62Meriones libycus 8 1.86 12.31Meriones crassus 2 0.47 3.08Rhombomys opimus 3 0.70 4.62Gerblus cheesmani 4 0.93 6.15Total number 65Total trap nights 430Overall capture rate per 100 traps 15.12libycus, Allactaga hotsoni, Allactaga elater,Calomyscus bailwardi, and Gerblus cheesmaniwere also relatively common. Crossodurazarudnyi and Meriones crassus seem to be rarein the study area.DiscussionDespite low productivity and harshclimitatic conditions, the diversity of mammalianfauna observed in Chaghai Desert is remarkable.The Calomyscus bailwardi has been documentedfor the first time from the Chagai Hills. In thepast, it was only reported from Ziarat, Quettaand southern parts of Balochistan. Rhombomysopimus was collected in 1967 from Nushki andthen in 1980 from Kalat area [15, 16]. It is nowcollected from Nokundi and from an areas in theWest of Koh-i-Dalil, where it was quite common.Gerbillus gleadowi is also recorded for the firsttime from the Humai area of Naukundi., Gerbillusgleadowi, Rhombomys opimus (Giant day Gird),Meriones libicus (Libyan jird), Jaculus blanfordi(Greater three toed jerboa), Allactata hotsoni(Hotsons’ five toed jerboa), Allctata elater (smallfive toed jerboa) and Felis margarita (Sand cat)are only represented in Chagai areas. These arenot reported other parts of Pakistan. Paraechinushypomelas (Hedgehog), Lepus capensis (Capehare), Vulpes rupelli (Ruppelles’ fox) andPipisttrellus kuhlii (Kuhls’ pipistrelle bat) arecommon in Chagai area as well as in rest of thecountry.Sand cat seems highly adapted to desertconditions of the Chagai. During field survey,Mr. Sarfraz of Humai village in Riko Diq area,has confirmed its presence. According to him, itsoccasional sightings are reported from variouslocalities at night. Red fox is fairly common in thearea. During present survey, two specimens werecaptured from the tube well site near Riko Diq

23 M. Rafique et al.and identified as Red fox. During night surveys,five foxes were sighted in the surrounding ofReko Diq camp and from indirect sightingsuch as footprints and scat they could easily bedetermined most common carnivore of the area.Sand fox seems rare in the area. According to alocal hunter (Yousuf Khan Siahpat, per.comm.),its encounters are frequent during night. TheBlanford’s or King fox is quite rare and accordingto local people, its sighting frequency is once in ayear.The goitred or Persian gazelle (Gazellasubgutturosa) is categorized as critically endangered,based on IUCN National Red List (2006).It has a very wide distribution across the MiddleEast and Asia. In Pakistan, the distribution ofgoitred gazelle is very limited and confined onlyto the border region of Balochistan contiguouswith southern Afghanistan and the Sistan desertbasin. However, populations throughout the rangeare subject to illegal hunting and habitat loss. Adecline in its population is reported throughoutits range and some populations have almostdisappeared in recent years, for example it wasconsidered locally extinct from Pakistan [18].During present study, a male Persian gazellewas sighted in 2005 near Kirtaka security checkpost, approximately 80 kilometres from theproposed mine site. Local informants reportedsighting of two gazelle in the same area in July-August 2008, and one of them was shot by a localsecurity guard (of Levis Force). We did not findsigns in plain areas, however a few old signsof gazelle were found in Kirtaka hills. Thesehills border Iran, where a sizeable population ofgoitered gazelle is reported (local informants).From these observations, it is concluded that,though Kirtaka hills make potential habitat forgazelle, there is no resident population of gazellein these hills due to lack of protection. Theyoccasionally visit from neighboring areas ofIran, and usually shot in Pakistan. Chinkara hasbeen reported in the Chagai desert, however, nosign or reports of its existence was noted duringthe present study. Thus we believe that it hasbeen exterminated from the area probably dueto frequent persecution in the past. The Asiaticcheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is one of the mostendangered felids and is declared as CriticallyEndangered in the IUCN Red List.The Asiatic cheetah once ranged frommiddle-east to India, through Iran, central Asia,Afghanistan and Pakistan. It currently survivesin Iran and is also believed to occur in adjoiningareas of Pakistan’s Balochistan. The populationof the cheetah in Iran is currently estimated ataround 50-60 and is restricted to the main desertareas around Dasht-e-Kavir at the eastern half ofIran [19]. The open lands, small plains, semidesertareas, and other open habitats where prey isavailable, forms the habitat of the cheetah in Iranand in adjoining areas of Balochistan. The studyarea is part of the Asiatic cheetah’s distributionrange and is located at a distance of 379-919 km(average: 679±378) from the known cheetahoccupiedareas in Iran (distances calculated fromthe maps of Farhadinia [18]. Moreover, thereare some unconfirmed reports of its presence inwestern Balochistan [20]. Cheetah is a highlyelusive animal and like other large felids, travelslarge distances. Therefore recent studies in Iran,undertaken as a part of a UNDP funded projectrevealed that in areas where cheetah presence wasconfirmed by scientific exploration, local peoplebelieved that it has been extirpated for 10-15years. During present study, some of the surveystransects were specifically placed in Kirtaka hills,which seems to be the most promising area bothfor ungulates and cheetah. However, we did notfind any signs of Cheetah’s presence throughoutthe study area. Local informants also confirmthat cheetah does not exist. Populations of largecarnivores are correlated with the densities oftheir natural prey, and study area does not support

Mammalian fauna: Chaghai desert 24a good population of ungulates. Considering thesefactors, we conclude that cheetah populationhas been extirpated from the Chagai Desert,though it might be occasionally vagrant fromneighboring populations in Iran. Loss of naturalprey, persecution by local community and landusechanges are the major factors contributing tothis loss.AcknowledgementsThe authors gratefully acknowledge thefinancial support and facilitation provided by theTethyan Copper Company (TCC), Hagler BaillyPakistan, and Halcrow Pakistan.References1. Wroughton, R.C. 1910. A new Murine genus andspecies from Sind and notes on a small collection ofRodents from lower Sind. JBNHS. 20: 996-1000.2. Wroughton, R.C. 1911. On a small collection ofRodents from lower Sind. JBNHS. 20: 1000-1001.3. Thomas, O. 1911. A New Murine genus andspecies form Sind, with diagnoses of three othernew genera based on previously known species ofMus. JBNHS 20: 992-996.4. Thomas, O. 1917. The Spiny-Mouse of Sind,scientific results from the mammal survey No. 16JBNHS 25: 205-206.5. Akhtar, S.A. 1960. The Rodents of West Pakistan.Pak. J. Sci. 12: 17-37.6. Ellerman, J.R. 1961. The Fauna of India includingPakistan, Burma and Ceylon. Mammalia, Vol.3.Rodentia, 2nd edit., Part 1: Sciuridae, Hystricidae,Muscardinidae, Rhizomyidae, Part 11: Muridae.Issued by the Zool. Survey, Calcutta, India,7. Fitzwater, W.D. and Prakash, I. 1969. Observationson the burrows, behaviour and home range of theIndian Desert Gerbil Meriones hurrianae (Jerdon).Mammalia 33: 598-606.8. Agrawal, V.C. 1965. Field Observations on thebiology and ecology of the Desert Gerbil, Meriouneshurrianae (Rodentia, Muridae) in Western India, J.Zool. Soc. India 17: 125-134.9. Agrawal, V.C. 1970. Taxonomic status of Millardia(Thomas). Mammalia 34: 496-504.10. Ahmad, A. and Chaudhry, M.I. 1977. Studies onhabits, habitat and damage of orcupines Hystrixindica, Rodentia, Mammalia. Pak. J. Forest 7: 147-150.11. Ahmad, M. F. and Ghalib, S. A. 1979. A checklistof mammals of Pakistan. Rec. Zool. Surv. Pak. 7:1-34.12. Beg, M.A., Khan, A.A. and Zaman, R. 1975. Agedetermination in the Indian Gerbil. Pak. J. Zool. 7:93-96.13. Beg, M.A. and Rana. S.A. 1978. Ecology of FieldRat, Rattus meltada in Central Punjab Pakistan.Pak. J. Zool. 10: 163-168.14. Beg, M.A., Kausar S., Hassan M.M. and KhanA.A. 1986. Some demographic and reproductiveparameters of the house sherews in Punjab,Pakistan. Pak. J. Zool. 8: 201-208.15. Roberts, T.J. 1997. The Mammals of Pakistan.Oxford University Press, Karachi, Pakistan.16. Roberts, T.J. 2005. Field guide to the smallmammals of Pakistan. Oxford University Press.17. Meeks, W.A. and Higgins, K.F. 1998. Nongamebirds, small mammals, reptiles, fishes: Sand LakeNational Wildlife Refuge, 1995-1996. SouthDakota Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin729. South Dakota State University, Brookings,South Dakota. 28 pp. Jamestown, ND: NorthernPrairie Wildlife Research Center Online. http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/wildlife/sandlake/index.htm (Version 04AUG2000).18. Mirza, Z.B. 1998. Animal Biodiversity of Pakistan.Center for Environmental Research and Conservation.229-B, St.4, F-10/3, Islamabad, Pakistan.19. Farhadinia, M.S. 2004. The Last stronghold:Cheetah in Iran. Cat News 40: 11-1420. Garstang, R. 1998. Asian cheetah recorded inBalochistan. Natura 25: 26.