Hazarganji Chiltan National Park

Wildlife of Hazarganji Chiltan National Park Quetta

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:

MammalScientific namePresence
Afghan hedgehogHemiechinus auritus megalotisChiltan, Hazarganji, Kharkhasa
Brandt’s hedgehogParaechinus hypomelasHazarganji, Kharkhasa
Balochistan short-tailed shrewCrocidura gmeliniChiltan, Hazarganji, Kharkhasa
Zarudny’s rock shrewCrocidura zarudnyiHazarganji, Kharkhasa
Greater horseshoe batRhinolophus ferrumequinumHazarganji
Indian wolfCanis lupus pallipesChiltan, Hazarganji
Asiatic jackalCanis aureusChiltan, Hazarganji, Kharkhasa
Red foxVulpes vulpesBibi Nala, Chiltan, Duzchur, Hazarganji, Hinjeeri Nala, Ziarat Nala
CaracalCaracal caracalChiltan, Hazarganji, Kharkhasa
Jungle catFelis chausChiltan, Hazarganji, Hazarganji Reserve forest, Kharkhasa
Beech martenMartes foinaChiltan, Hazarganji, Hazarganji Reserve forest, Kharkhasa
Marbled polecatVormela peregusnaHazarganji, Kharkhasa
Striped hyenaHyaena hyaenaChiltan, Hazarganji, Kharkhasa
Chiltan ibexCapra aegagrus chialtanensisAll over the park
Cape hareLepus capensisBibi Nala, Hazarganji, Ziarat Nala
Afghan pikaOchotona rufescensHazarganji Reserve forest
Grey dwarf hamsterCricetulus migratoriusChiltan, Hazarganji
Baluchi mouse-like hamsterCalomyscus baluchiChiltan, Hazarganji, Kharkhasa
Small five-toed jerboaAllactaga elaterChiltan Hills, Hazarganji
Forest dormouseDryomys nitedulaChiltan Reserve forest, Hazarganji, Kharkhasa
Indian crested porcupineHystrix indicaChiltan, Hazarganji (1,800–2,500m)
Sundevall’s jirdMeriones crassusChiltan, Hazarganji
Persian jirdMeriones persicusChiltan, Hazarganji
Libyan jirdMeriones libycusChiltan, Hazarganji
Southern mole voleEllobius fuscocapillusChiltan, Hazargani (1,900–2,400m)
Brown spiny mouseMus saxicolaChiltan, Hazarganji
Black ratRattus rattusMuseum and rest-house
Sand-colored soft-furred ratMillardia gleadowiHazarganji
House mouseMus musculusChiltan, Hazarganji
Indian bandicoot ratNesokia indicaBibi 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

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top