Deh Akro-II Desert Wetland Complex

Deh Akro-II Desert Wetland Complex
Deh Akro-II Wildlife Sanctuary
Map showing the location of Deh Akro-II Desert Wetland Complex
Map showing the location of Deh Akro-II Desert Wetland Complex
Map showing the location of Deh Akro-II Desert Wetland Complex
Map showing the location of Deh Akro-II Desert Wetland Complex
LocationShaheed Benazirabad District, Sindh, Pakistan
Nearest cityNaushahro Feroze
Coordinates26°49′59″N 68°19′59″E / 26.83306°N 68.33306°E / 26.83306; 68.33306
Area20,500 ha (79 sq mi)[1]
Elevation50 metres (160 ft)
DesignationWildlife Sanctuary
Established1988
Governing bodySindh Wildlife Department
Designated5 November 2002[1]
Reference no.1,283

Deh Akro-II Desert Wetland Complex locally referred to as Deh Akro, is one of the ten Ramsar sites located in Sindh province of Pakistan. Designated under the Ramsar convention in 2002, the internationally significant site has mainly an inland wetland ecosystem and covers an area of around 20,500 hectares (51,000 acres).[1][2]

Location

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The complex lies in central Sindh in Shaheed Benazirabad District,[a] in proximity to the regions of Naushahra Feroz District at a distance of approximately 330 kilometres (210 mi) in the northeast of the provincial capital, Karachi. In the northeast of the complex, borders the Nara desert which is a subdivision of the larger Thar Desert.

Status

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The site was officially declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1988.[3][4] Moreover, proper measures were undertaken by WWF-Pakistan to make the wetland reach criteria; 1 – 6 and 8 for Ramsar designation in 2002.[5] Later in 2004, the site was listed in Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas by BirdLife International under criteria; A1 and A4iii.[6]

Geography

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Deh Akro-II Complex preserves a diverse collection of wildlife due to the alteration of geographic features within the confines of the complex. It comprises marshy areas, agricultural lands, sandy deserts, and wetlands, which collectively raise it a site holding the four varying habitats. In between the desert land with an average of 5 to 10-metre sand, there are plain interdunal valleys transversing with freshwater lakes in them. Out of a total of thirty-six lakes which form the wetland of the complex, five are freshwater lakes while the remaining lakes are mostly composed of brack water due to considerable salts concentrations. All are waterbodies from the local irrigations specially the Nara Canal[b] of the Indus River of the region, and are also fed by rainwater.[1] Due to water scarcity and climate change, the wetland complex which initially contained 45 lakes as of 1988, reduced to 36 lakes in 2003. Later in 2021, the number reportedly dropped to 32.[7][4] There are also human settlements in the complex which include Kunjwaro, Nathantal, Lalantar, Drigadaro, Pokhal-wari, Husayfakir, and some others.

Biodiversity

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In Deh Akro-II Complex, the commonly inhabiting animals are crocodiles, otters, waterfowls, and fishes. A community of some of the rare and endangered species of the world survive here.[1][3] Notable rare species inhabiting the sanctuary include; oriental darter (Anhinga melanogaster), garganey (Anas Querquedula), desert wildcat (Felis lybica), and black ibis (Pseudibis papillosa). The endangered animal species include Indian hog deer (Axis porcinus), fudge duck (Aythya nyroca), and mugger crocodile (Crocodylus palustris).[8][9]

The wetland sanctuary hosts a total of 14 fishes, 16 reptilian, 18 mammalian, and 101 avian species which are listed as follows:[10]

Reptiles[c]

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Common name Scientific name
Brahminy Blind Snake Typhlops braminus
Indian sand boa Eryx johni
Saw scaled Viper Echis carinatus
Agama Trapelus agilis
Afghan ground agama Trapelus megalonyx
Indian spiny-tailed lizard Saara hardwicki
Indian fringe-fingered lizard Acanthodactylus contoris
Persian long-tailed desert lizard Mesalina watsonana
Sind gecko Crossobamon orientalis
Dwarf Gecko Tropicolotes helenae
Indian sand-swimmer Ophiomorus tridactylus
Indian monitor Varanus bengalensis
Desert monitor Varanus griseus
Brown-roofed turtle Pangshura smithii
Spotted pond turtle Geoclemys hamiltoni
Mugger crocodile Crocodylus palustris

Fishes[d]

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Common name Scientific name
Rohu Labeo rohita
Dambru Labeo nigripinnis
Orangefin Labeo Labeo calbasu
Makhni Ambassis nam
Giant Murrel Channa marulius
Dayya Tilapia mossombica
Catla Labeo catla
Singhara Mystus secnghala
Pla khao Wallago attu
Gandan Notopterus notopterus
Butter catfish Ompok bimaculatus
Tank goby Glossogobius giuris
Morakha Cirrhinus mrigala
Palli Gaduria chopra

Mammals[e]

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Common name Scientific name
Hedgehog Hemiechinus auratus
Yellow throated Shrew Suncus stoliczkanus
White-footed Fox Vulpes vulpes pusilla
Golden Jackal Canis aureus
Smooth-coated otter Lutra perspicillata
Small Indian Mongoose Urva auropunctatus
Desert wildcat Felis lybica
Jungle cat Felis chaus
Eurasian wild pig Sus scrofa
Indian hog deer Axis porcinus
Indian hare Lepus nigrocollis
Indian Crested Porcupine Hystrix indica
Five-striped palm squirrel Funambulus pennanti
House Mouse Mus musculus
Short-tailed Bandicoot Rat Nesokia indica
Balochistan gerbil Gerbillus nanus
Indian gerbil Tatera indica
Indian Desert Jird Meriones hurrianae

Marsh crocodiles

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Main article: Mugger crocodile

The national reptile of the country, Crocodylus palustris, commonly called as the "marsh crocodile", has been a vital subject among species of crocodiles in the Indian subcontinent. In Deh Akro-II, the crocodile inhabits the swamps, marshlands, and lakes. Throughout the last three decades, this IUCN's redlisted species faced reduction in its population due to poaching, prolonged water shortage and habitat destruction in the Deh Akro-II. As of 2021, the international conservationists pointed out a 90 percent decline in the count of crocodiles during the period.[4][11][12]

Notes

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  1. ^ formerly known as Nawabshah District.
  2. ^ via Jamrau Headworks.
  3. ^ "List of Reptiles of Deh Akro-II" (PDF). rsis.ramsar.org.
  4. ^ "List of Fishes of Deh Akro-II" (PDF).
  5. ^ "List of Mammals of Deh Akro-II" (PDF).

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Deh Akro-II Desert Wetland Complex". rsis.ramsar.org. Ramsar Sites Information Service. 5 November 2002. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  2. ^ "LAHORE: Three new sites identified on Wetlands Day". Dawn Newspaper. 2 February 2003. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  3. ^ a b Ali, Imtiaz (29 June 2015). "Sindh's lakes drying due to water scarcity, encroachment". Dawn. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  4. ^ a b c Kunbhar, Zulfiqar (6 February 2021). "Habitat destruction at Sindh sanctuary threatens Pakistan's vulnerable marsh crocodiles". Arab News. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  5. ^ World Database on Protected Areas – Deh Akro-II Desert Wetland Complex
  6. ^ "Deh Akro Wildlife Sanctuary". birdlife.org. BirdLife International. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  7. ^ Bors, G. Shankar & Gruszczyńska 2024.
  8. ^ "Deh Akro-II". wli.wwt.org.uk. Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  9. ^ Ilyas, Faiza (1 October 2016). "Over 300 freshwater turtles seized, four suspects held". Dawn. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  10. ^ "Deh Akro-II Wetlands Complex – Background". globalnature.org. Global Nature Fund. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  11. ^ Khaskheli, Jan (1 September 2014). "Crocodiles safe from poachers in Pakistan's Nara wetland". Dialogue Earth. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  12. ^ R. Joshi, Abhaya (2 July 2022). "Return of the king? Pakistan moves to bring gharials from Nepal to its rivers". Mongabay. Nepal. Retrieved 11 December 2024.

Further reading

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