Hazarganji Chiltan National Park is a national park in the Mastung district of the western Balochistan province of Pakistan. It lies between Chiltan to its west and Hazarganj to its east. The park was established in 1980 to provide habitat for the rare Chiltan ibex found in the area
Hazarganji Chiltan National Park Area
Hazarganji Chiltan National Park was established in 1980 and covers 325,000 acres of land located near the Koh-i-Chiltan mountain on the outskirts of Quetta.
Hazarganji Park Quetta Location
The park is located in the Sulaiman Mountains with desert and forest habitats, about 20 kilometers (12 mi) southwest of the city of Quetta.
Hazarganji Chiltan National Park is another beautiful national park of Pakistan. The area is mountainous with steep slopes divided by ravines. The Chiltan Hills and the Hazar Ganji Range lie west and east of the north-south Chiltan divide. It is easily accessible from the provincial capital of Quetta and attracts many visitors. Amenities include a museum, picnic areas, and lodging at roadhouses.
Hazarganji National Park History
Hazarganji Chiltan National park was primarily established to provide sanctuary for the endangered Chiltan wild goat or Markhor. In the 1950s it was said to exceed 1,200, but in November 1970 the population was estimated at about 200, based on a total of 107 individuals. Currently, the total population of the wild Chiltan goat is estimated at about 800.
The Suleimanian markhor is also present in the northern part of the Chiltan range, and a few urials still survive on the western slopes between 1500 and 2100 m. Carnivores include the stripped hyena and red fox.
Hazarganji Name Meaning
The name comes from the path between the mountains called “Hazarganji” which means (of a thousand treasures) in the native language, as it was a historical passage for Greco-Bactrian, Mongols, Scythians and migrating hordes of Baloch tribes.
Chiltan National Park Wildlife
Hazarganji chiltan National Park Quetta’s biodiversity includes 30 species of mammals (9 species of large mammals and 21 species of small mammals), 120 species of avifauna (36 resident and 84 migratory), and 30 species of reptiles.
Trees in the forests include Pashtun juniper (Juniperus macropoda), pistachios, almonds and ash trees. hazarganji chiltan national park
Fauna includes about 300-400 rare Sulaiman Markhor and around 800 Chiltan Ibex surviving within the park boundaries. Few urials still survive on the western slopes between 1,500 and 2,100 m. Other fauna include the Indian wolf, striped hyena, Baluch leopard, caracal, common jackal and Indian porcupine.
Birds include the very rare Houbara bustard, griffon vulture, Egyptian vulture, crested buzzard (winter only), late falcon, peregrine falcon, common kestrel, common grebe (winter only), Indian kestrel, Indian cuckoo, European bee-eater (breeding only ), ruffed grouse, European nightjar (breeding/summer only), long-billed warbler, eastern warbler, variable thrush, blue rocker, white-headed warbler, Liechtenstein’s desert finch and reptiles. monitor lizards, Russell’s viper, saw viper and spiny-tailed lizards. hazarganji chiltan national park
A total of 30 species of mammals are exists in Hazarganji Chiltan National Park:
| Mammal | Scientific name | Presence |
|---|---|---|
| Afghan hedgehog | Hemiechinus auritus megalotis | Chiltan, Hazarganji, Kharkhasa |
| Brandt’s hedgehog | Paraechinus hypomelas | Hazarganji, Kharkhasa |
| Balochistan short-tailed shrew | Crocidura gmelini | Chiltan, Hazarganji, Kharkhasa |
| Zarudny’s rock shrew | Crocidura zarudnyi | Hazarganji, Kharkhasa |
| Greater horseshoe bat | Rhinolophus ferrumequinum | Hazarganji |
| Indian wolf | Canis lupus pallipes | Chiltan, Hazarganji |
| Asiatic jackal | Canis aureus | Chiltan, Hazarganji, Kharkhasa |
| Red fox | Vulpes vulpes | Bibi Nala, Chiltan, Duzchur, Hazarganji, Hinjeeri Nala, Ziarat Nala |
| Caracal | Caracal caracal | Chiltan, Hazarganji, Kharkhasa |
| Jungle cat | Felis chaus | Chiltan, Hazarganji, Hazarganji Reserve forest, Kharkhasa |
| Beech marten | Martes foina | Chiltan, Hazarganji, Hazarganji Reserve forest, Kharkhasa |
| Marbled polecat | Vormela peregusna | Hazarganji, Kharkhasa |
| Striped hyena | Hyaena hyaena | Chiltan, Hazarganji, Kharkhasa |
| Chiltan ibex | Capra aegagrus chialtanensis | All over the park |
| Cape hare | Lepus capensis | Bibi Nala, Hazarganji, Ziarat Nala |
| Afghan pika | Ochotona rufescens | Hazarganji Reserve forest |
| Grey dwarf hamster | Cricetulus migratorius | Chiltan, Hazarganji |
| Baluchi mouse-like hamster | Calomyscus baluchi | Chiltan, Hazarganji, Kharkhasa |
| Small five-toed jerboa | Allactaga elater | Chiltan Hills, Hazarganji |
| Forest dormouse | Dryomys nitedula | Chiltan Reserve forest, Hazarganji, Kharkhasa |
| Indian crested porcupine | Hystrix indica | Chiltan, Hazarganji (1,800–2,500m) |
| Sundevall’s jird | Meriones crassus | Chiltan, Hazarganji |
| Persian jird | Meriones persicus | Chiltan, Hazarganji |
| Libyan jird | Meriones libycus | Chiltan, Hazarganji |
| Southern mole vole | Ellobius fuscocapillus | Chiltan, Hazargani (1,900–2,400m) |
| Brown spiny mouse | Mus saxicola | Chiltan, Hazarganji |
| Black rat | Rattus rattus | Museum and rest-house |
| Sand-colored soft-furred rat | Millardia gleadowi | Hazarganji |
| House mouse | Mus musculus | Chiltan, Hazarganji |
| Indian bandicoot rat | Nesokia indica | Bibi Nala, Hazarganji, Hinjeeri Nala, Ziarat Nala |
Chiltan Express Train
This train had Quetta-Lahore route via Dera Ghazi Khan and Kot Adu Jn. This route opened in 1973 and therefore the Chiltan Express probably started operating in that year or later. Over the years, the Chiltan Express route has changed many times, running between Quetta and Peshawar via Faisalabad, between Quetta and Rawalpindi via Lahore and now between Quetta and Lahore via Faisalabad. hazarganji chiltan national park
