Assessment of Seasonal Distribution and Threats to Avian Fauna of Lahore Safari Zoo
Assessment of Seasonal Distribution and Threats to Avian Fauna of Lahore Safari Zoo
Shahid Mehmood1,*, Bushra Nisar Khan1, Hassan Raza1, Rida Ahmad1, Azhar Muhammad3, Zulfiqar Ali2, Farhan Abid1, Fehmeeda Bibi4 and Syed Maviz Ahmed5
ABSTRACT
The study was conducted to observe the year round bird species diversity from October 2014 to September 2015 at Safari Zoo Lahore (31°22’57 N, 74° 12’ 47 E and elevation 208m) located in district Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. In total, 5456 birds belonging to 71 species, 40 families and 12 orders were recorded. Bird species distribution was: year round residents 50 (70.4%), winter migrants 12 (16.9%), summer breeders eight (8) (11.3%) and passage migrant one (1) (1.4%). More birds were observed in winter season compared to summer season. The most dominant species were house crow, Corvus splendens (n=2518), house sparrow, Passer domesticus (n=772), common myna, Acridotheres tristis (n=327), black-crowned night heron, Nycticorax nycticorax (n=190) and jungle babbler, Turdoides striatus (n=186). Among 71 species, Alexandrine parakeet, Psittacula eupatria was the only near threatened species: all other species were least concern. Human population pressure, habitat degradation and lack of awareness are the main threats that ultimately will cause reduction in species numbers around the study area. Therefore, there is an urgent need to save and protect bird diversity by maintaining the suitable habitat of the area.
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April 2018
Vol. 50, Iss. 2, Pages 401-797
