STATUS OF BLANFORD'S URIAL AND SINDH IBEX IN THE DUREJI GAME MANAGEMENT AREA, PAKISTAN

摘要

The Dureji Game Management Area (DGMA) is a 1,301 km~2 private wildlife reserve in Balochistan Province, Pakistan, that maintains significant numbers of Blanford's urial (Ovis orientalis blanfordi) and Sindh ibex or Sarra (Capra aegagrus blythii). The DGMA was first established informally in 1972, when the Bhootani family created a 178,259 ha wildlife reserve. Due to its importance the area was first declared a wildlife sanctuary in a draft Wildlife Act. Later, its status as a wildlife sanctuary was secured under the Balochistan Wildlife Protection Act (1974). The reserve was established out of concern for declining urial and Sindh ibex populations in their large habitat near the town of Dureji. By 1975, a game guard system was in place providing effective protection for urial, Sindh ibex, and chinkara. Currently, 38 game guards protect the wildlife in the DGMA. Although no systematic surveys were conducted, available evidence indicates that the urial population increased in response to this protection. Informal surveys conducted by the Bhootanis and their game guards led them to believe the urial population had increased to 1,000-1,200 animals by the late 1990's. During this time frame (with the exception of periodic, limited trophy hunting) urial were vigorously protected. Fees derived from hunting are an important incentive in the protection of urial and several other wild species on the area.