Punjab First Wildlife Survey Reveals Surprising Animal Population Numbers

Punjab's inaugural wildlife survey has unveiled surprising animal population figures, with 5,128 urials, 1,276 chinkaras, and 540 Indus River dolphins among the noteworthy discoveries. The project, a collaborative effort between IUCN Pakistan and the Punjab Wildlife and Parks Department, aims to scientifically evaluate the distribution, habitats, and threats faced by Punjab's wildlife and plant species.

Initial findings also documented bird species like grey francolins (92,636), black francolins (40,526), and houbara bustards (1,821), along with amphibians such as skittering frogs (7,600), Bengal monitor lizards (1,070), Indian softshell turtles (720), Indian cobras (85), saw-scaled vipers (78), and Indian rock pythons (22). Plant species like shisham, kikar, peepal, phulai, pilu, and kava were also recorded.

The survey, which utilized modern technologies like GPS, camera traps, drones, and GIS, was initiated in Lahore in April 2025 with a budget of Rs. 530 million. Asim Jamal, IUCN Pakistan Project Manager, emphasized that the project's goal is to establish a scientific basis for future conservation policies and a Red Data Book based on the survey findings, expected to be completed by 2028.