Chinji National Park

Chinji National Park
IUCN category II (national park)
Chinji is located in north of Khushab and south of Islamabad
Location	Talagang, Salt Range, Punjab, Pakistan
Nearest city	Jhalta
Coordinates	33°0′36.87″N72°29′30.98″E / 33.0102417°N 72.4919389°E / 33.0102417; 72.4919389
Area	60.95 km2 (23.53 sq mi)
Elevation	2,231 ft (680 m)
Established	1987
Visitors	2000 - 5000
Governing body	Wildlife and Parks Department, Government of Punjab (Pakistan)

Chinji National Park (shortened as Chinji), established in 1987, ^[1] is a protected area of IUCN category II (national park) located on Sargodha road near Chinji town in District Talagang, Punjab, Pakistan. ^[2] The national park covers a total area of 6,095 hectares (15,061 acres). ^[3] Chinji National Park is located close to the Salt Range, and about 130 km from Islamabad in the south.

Landscape

The area has an elevation imperial of 2,231 feet (680 m). Deeply eroded land of Chinji consists of sandstone to igneous rocks, combined with small deposits of rock salt from the Salt Range. Deep torrential streams and ravines slope into the Soan River, which passes through the area.^{[ citation needed ]}

Climate

Chinji National Park
Chinji National Park In 2023

Average annual rainfall in the area is 537 mm, out of which 308 mm is in the monsoon season from July to September. Maximum temperature is 27 °C in June and minimum is 2.2 °C in January. Frost is common in winter season. Relative humidity can reach up to 80% in monsoon.^{[ citation needed ]}

Wildlife

The Chinji National Park exhibits the biome of deserts and xeric shrublands and falls in the ecoregion of 'Baluchistan xeric woodlands' (PA1307). ^[4] The area is characterized to have sub-tropical vegetation with many plant species of importance. A few of the mammals found here include the Urial, Golden jackal, Bengal fox, Indian wolf and Indian pangolin. A few game birds include Grey francolin and Common wood pigeon ^[5]

Fauna and flora

List of fauna found in the national park. ^{[6] [7]}

Mammals

#	Name	Scientific name	Picture
1	Brandt's hedgehog	Paraechinus hypomelas
2	Asian house shrew	Suncus murinus
3	Indian bush rat	Golunda ellioti
4	Northern palm squirrel	Funambulus pennantii
5	Yellow-throated marten	Martes flavigula
6	Indian pangolin	Manis crassicaudata
7	Bengal fox	Vulpes bengalensis
8	Red fox	Vulpes vulpes
9	Indian wolf	Canis lupus pallipes
10	Small Indian civet	Small Indian civet
11	Indian long-eared hedgehog	Hemiechinus collaris
12	Indian crested porcupine	Hystrix indica
13	Black rat	Rattus rattus
14	House mouse	Mus musculus
15	Indian grey mongoose	Urva edwardsii
16	Small Indian mongoose	Urva auropunctata
17	Indian jackal	Canis aureus indicus
18	Jungle cat	Felis chaus
19	Asiatic wildcat	Felis lybica ornata
20	Punjab urial	Ovis vignei punjabiensis

Reptiles

#	Name	Scientific name	Picture
1	Bengal monitor	Varanus bengalensis
2	Yellow-belly gecko	Hemidactylus flaviviridis
3	Oriental garden lizard	Calotes versicolor

Birds

#	Name	Scientific name	Picture
1	Chukar partridge	Alectoris chukar
2	See-see partridge	Ammoperdix griseogularis
3	Grey francolin	Ortygornis pondicerianus
4	Common quail	Coturnix coturnix
5	Rock dove	Columba livia
6	Black-winged stilt	Himantopus himantopus
7	Laughing dove	Spilopelia senegalensis
8	Red-wattled lapwing	Vanellus indicus
9	Greater coucal	Centropus sinensis
10	White-throated kingfisher	Halcyon smyrnensis
11	Red-vented bulbul	Pycnonotus cafer
12	Black-winged kite	Elanus caeruleus
13	Black kite	Milvus migrans
14	Eurasian teal	Anas crecca
15	Common pochard	Aythya ferina

See also

• List of national parks of Pakistan
• Salt Range

References

1. "Country Report on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture - Pakistan" (PDF). parc.gov.pk. Pakistan Agricultural Research Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 January 2012. Retrieved 22 September 2010.
2. "Chinji National Park ready to open this year". The Express Tribune. 3 January 2021.
3. "Chinji National Park". wdpa.org. World Database on protected Areas. Retrieved 22 September 2010.^{[ permanent dead link ]}
4. "Baluchistan xeric woodlands". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund. Retrieved 22 September 2010.
5. "Ovis orientalis vignei". iucnredlist.org. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010. Retrieved 22 September 2010.
6. Kanwal, Rimsha (9 February 2022). "Diversity and density of mammals in Chinji National Park, district Chakwal, Punjab, Pakistan". Zenodo. Zenodo. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
7. Imran, Myra (7 February 2021). "Chinji National Park: Unexplored beauty of Potohar landscape". The News. The News. Retrieved 17 November 2023.

External links

• World Database On Protected Areas (WDPA) - Profile ^{[ permanent dead link ]}
• Conservation of dry shrub forests in Salt Range - Planning report
• wildlifeofpakistan.com