Chinji National Park
Map showing the location of Chinji National Park
Map showing the location of Chinji National Park
Chinji is located in north of Khushab and south of Islamabad
LocationTalagang, Salt Range, Punjab, Pakistan
Nearest cityJhalta
Coordinates33°0′36.87″N 72°29′30.98″E / 33.0102417°N 72.4919389°E / 33.0102417; 72.4919389
Area60.95 km2 (23.53 sq mi)
Elevation2,231 ft (680 m)
Established1987
Visitors?
Governing bodyWildlife and Parks Department,
Government of Punjab (Pakistan)

Chinji National Park (shortened as Chinji), established in 1987,[1] is a protected area of IUCN category II (national park) located on Sargodha road Near Chinji Town in District Talagang Punjab, Pakistan.[2] It covers a total area of 6,095 hectares (15,061 acres).[3] Chinji National Park is located close to Salt Range, about 130 km from Islamabad in the south.

Landscape

The area has an elevation imperial of 2,231 feet (680 m). Deeply eroded land of Chinji consists of sandstone to igneous rocks, combined with small deposits of rock salt from the Salt Range. Deep torrential streams and ravines slope into the Soan River, which passes through the area.

Climate

Chinji National Park
Chinji National Park In 2023

Average annual rainfall in the area is 537 mm, out of which 308 mm is in the monsoon season from July to September. Maximum temperature is 27 °C in June and minimum is 2.2 °C in January. Frost is common in winter season. Relative humidity can reach up to 80% in monsoon.

Wildlife

The Chinji National Park exhibits the biome of deserts and xeric shrublands and falls in the ecoregion of 'Baluchistan xeric woodlands' (PA1307).[4] The area is characterized to have sub-tropical vegetation with many plant species of importance. A few of the mammals found here include the Urial, Golden jackal, Bengal fox, Indian wolf and Indian pangolin. A few game birds include Grey francolin and Common wood pigeon[5]

Fauna and flora

List of fauna found in the national park.[6][7]

Mammals
#NameScientific namePicture
1Brandt's hedgehogParaechinus hypomelas
2Asian house shrewSuncus murinus
3Indian bush ratGolunda ellioti
4Northern palm squirrelFunambulus pennantii
5Yellow-throated martenMartes flavigula
6Indian pangolinManis crassicaudata
7Bengal foxVulpes bengalensis
8Red foxVulpes vulpes
9Indian wolfCanis lupus pallipes
10Small Indian civetSmall Indian civet
11Indian long-eared hedgehogHemiechinus collaris
12Indian crested porcupineHystrix indica
13Black ratRattus rattus
14House mouseMus musculus
15Indian grey mongooseUrva edwardsii
16Small Indian mongooseUrva auropunctata
17Indian jackalCanis aureus indicus
18Jungle catFelis chaus
19Asiatic wildcatFelis lybica ornata
20Punjab urialOvis vignei punjabiensis
Reptiles
#NameScientific namePicture
1Bengal monitorVaranus bengalensis
2Yellow-belly geckoHemidactylus flaviviridis
3Oriental garden lizardCalotes versicolor
Birds
#NameScientific namePicture
1Chukar partridgeAlectoris chukar
2See-see partridgeAmmoperdix griseogularis
3Grey francolinOrtygornis pondicerianus
4Common quailCoturnix coturnix
5Rock doveColumba livia
6Black-winged stiltHimantopus himantopus
7Laughing doveSpilopelia senegalensis
8Red-wattled lapwingVanellus indicus
9Greater coucalCentropus sinensis
10White-throated kingfisherHalcyon smyrnensis
11Red-vented bulbulPycnonotus cafer
12Black-shouldered kiteElanus axillaris
13Black kiteMilvus migrans
14Eurasian tealAnas crecca
15Common pochardAythya ferina

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Country Report on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture - Pakistan" (PDF). parc.gov.pk. Pakistan Agricultural Research Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 January 2012. Retrieved 22 September 2010.
  2. ↑ "Chinji National Park ready to open this year". The Express Tribune. 3 January 2021.
  3. ↑ "Chinji National Park". wdpa.org. World Database on protected Areas. Retrieved 22 September 2010.
  4. ↑ "Baluchistan xeric woodlands". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund. Retrieved 22 September 2010.
  5. ↑ "Ovis orientalis vignei". iucnredlist.org. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010. Retrieved 22 September 2010.
  6. ↑ Kanwal, Rimsha (9 February 2022). "Diversity and density of mammals in Chinji National Park, district Chakwal, Punjab, Pakistan". Zenodo. Zenodo. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  7. ↑ Imran, Myra (7 February 2021). "Chinji National Park: Unexplored beauty of Potohar landscape". The News. The News. Retrieved 17 November 2023.


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