Punjab’s first comprehensive provincial wildlife survey has recorded 5,128 Punjab urials, 1,276 chinkaras and 540 Indus River dolphins, along with thousands of birds, reptiles and amphibians across the province, according to initial findings.
The survey also recorded 160 blue bulls, 138 hog deer and 93 blackbucks. However, the complete and final findings have not yet been officially released for public access.
Among bird species, the survey counted 92,636 grey francolins, 40,526 black francolins, 6,052 chukars, 1,821 houbara bustards, 345 vultures and 49 kalij pheasants.
The findings also include 7,600 skittering frogs, 1,070 Bengal monitor lizards, 720 Indian softshell turtles, 85 Indian cobras, 78 saw-scaled vipers and 22 Indian rock pythons.
Several plant species, including shisham, kikar, peepal, phulai, pilu and kava, were also documented as part of the survey.
The project is being carried out jointly by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Pakistan and the Punjab Wildlife and Parks Department. It was formally launched in Lahore in April 2025 with an estimated cost of Rs. 530 million.
IUCN Pakistan Project Manager Asim Jamal said the project aims to scientifically assess the population, distribution, habitats and threats faced by wildlife and plant species across Punjab.
He said the collected data would provide a reliable scientific basis for future conservation policies, while the preparation of a Red Data Book based on the survey findings is also a key component of the project.
Project Director Wildlife Rangers Mudassar Hassan said preparations for the second phase of the survey are underway.
According to Hassan, the first phase focused on conducting a wildlife census, while the collected data will be further verified and refined in the coming years.
He said factors such as the migration and movement patterns of different species would be considered during the verification process. The data would subsequently be aligned with the requirements of the IUCN Red List.
Hassan added that the preparation of Pakistan’s first Red Data Book is part of the project and is expected to be completed by 2028.
Modern technologies, including GPS, camera traps, drones and Geographic Information System (GIS), were used to conduct the survey. The collected information is also being preserved in a digital database.
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