Distribution of Wild Mammalian Fauna of Mahaban and Malka Valley District Buner

Buner is the district of Malakand division (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) which is mostly hilly areas. It is surrounded by Swat in north, Malakand agency in west, Shangla in east and Swabi and Mardan in south. Buner lies between 34-09 and 34-43° N latitude and 72-10 and 72-47° E longitude (Saeed et al., 2013). The biodiversity of the area is facing threat from urbanization, illegal hunting and mining.

Mahaban and Malka are the mountainous sites of Buner, mostly enclosed by green pine forests all around. Study area has moist temperate zone. Climate is normal in summer and cruel in winter, optimum temperature in summer residue around 10-15°C for about 7 months of the year, while in winter the temperature is well below freezing (Ali et al., 2016). The study area was divided into six different localities namely, Shahkot, Shalhodabuna, Sharra, Hanjar, Hkar Gata and Muhammad Baig (Table I).

During study direct and indirect methods were used to explore the mammalian diversity. Binoculars (32x50) were used to examine animals and filed guides were consulted to correctly identify the species (Altaf et al., 2014).

During present study telescope, mobile camera, GPS were used. Where mammals were physically sighted or its indirect evidence was collected.

During this study, 10 different species belonging to 9 families, 5 orders and 10 genera of mammals were reported (Table II). Jackals and fox species were dominant in the area. The Goral species is threatened in the Mahaban and Malka valley since it is widely hunted in the area. Another factor is mining, which disturb the habitat and the species eventually migrate from this area. Zahidullah et al. (2016) have also attributed this dwindling population of goral to deforestation, lack of proper habitat, illegal anthropogenic over hunting and over grazing.

Ninety species of mammals were reported from Balochistan in 2012 belonging to 9 orders and 27 families; of these, 2l species are threatened, 4 species are endemic to Balochistan, 14 species are of special conservation interest, 8 sites are important for mammals. Special efforts are being made to conserve the important mammals particularly in the protected areas especially in Chiltan Hazarganji National Park and the Hingol National Park (Ali et al., 2012). Roberts (1997) recorded 23 mammalian species (15 small and 8 large mammalian species) from river Chenab belonging to 20 genera, 11 families, and 6 orders. Akhtar et al. (2014) reported 8 species grey goral, porcupine, fox, monkey, wild boar, jackal, hare and bat from district Buner. In our study, the endemic species recorded from district Buner were Naemorhedus goral, Panthera pardus, Sus scrofa, Lepus nigricollis, Macaca mulatta, Canis aureus, Vulpes vulpes, Myotis myotis, Herpestes edwardsii and Hystrix indica.

*, IUCN (2017); LC, least concern; NT, near threatened.

During a study conducted by Ghalib et al. (2007) reportedt 14 species of particular conservation interest, 8 sites are important for mammals. Particular efforts are in process to preserve vital mammals chiefly in protected areas especially in Chiltan Hazarganji National Park and the Hingol National Park. During our study order Carnivora is represented by 4 species, including Panthera pardus, Canis aureus, Vulpes vulpes and Herpestes edwardsii.

Authors have declared no conflict of interest.