Study on some mediun-sized and large mammals of chotiari wetlands complex, sanghar, sindh, Pakistan

ABSTRACT

Present study aimed to investigate some free-living medium-sized and large mammals of Chotiari Reservoir and its environs, District Sanghar, Sindh. Mammals belonging to two orders viz. Carnivora and Artiodactyla were studied. Main reservoir, surrounding lakes, marshes, irrigated canals, cultivated lands, sand dunes, southern edges of Thar Desert and human habitations were studied as mammalian habitats. Evidences concerning thirteen species of medium-sized and large mammals were obtained from the complex. The results include data on species richness, abundance and distribution, organized into species account. Species thought to have become extinct include Indian wolf and striped hyena. Hog deer is confined to privately owned game reserves with no more wild population. Only four males of introduced Chinkara still survive in an isolated island within the reservoir. Rare species of the area include smooth-coated otter, Indian desert cat, caracal and fishing cat