Shandur National Park

Shandur-Hundrup National Park
IUCN category II (national park)
Location in Pakistan
Location	Gupis Yasin District, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
Coordinates	36°05′23″N72°33′17″E / 36.08972°N 72.55472°E / 36.08972; 72.55472
Area	1,986 km2
Established	1993

Shandur-Hundrup National Park is a protected area situated in the Pakistan administered north-western region, within the Gupis Yasin District in Gilgit-Baltistan. ^{[1] [2]}

Description

It was declared as a national park in 1993 and has an area of 51,800 hectares ^[3] or 766 km². ^[4] Shandur-Hundrup covers a total area of approximately 766 square kilometers, with its highest point being the Shandur Pass, which stands at an elevation of 3,700 meters. ^[1]

A scene of mountain reflection in waters of Shandur Lake

The Shandur Polo Ground is located at an elevation of approximately 3,700 meters above sea level. The ground is the highest polo field in the world and is host to the annual Shandur Polo Festival, which is a popular event that attracts visitors from all over the world. ^[5]

Species

There are 17 species found in the national park, 8 mammals and 9 birds. ^[6]

Mammals

Name of animal	Scientific name	Status	Pictures
Cape hare	Lepus capensis	Least concerned
Himalayan brown bear	Ursus arctos isabellinus	Near threatened
Himalayan ibex	Capra sibirica	Near threatened
Himalayan lynx	Lynx lynx isabellinus	Least concerned
Indian wolf	Canis lupus pallipes	Endangered
Pallas's cat	Otocolobus manul	Least concerned
Snow Leopard	Panthera uncia	Vulnerable
Stone marten	Martes foina	Least concerned

Birds

Name of bird	Scientific name	Status	Pictures
Booted Eagle	Hieraaetus pennatus	Least concerned
Chukar partridge	Alectoris chukar	Least concerned
Common kestrel	Falco tinnunculus	Least concerned
Eurasian sparrowhawk	Accipiter nisus	Least concerned
Golden eagle	Aquila chrysaetos	Least concerned
Himalayan vulture	Gyps himalayensis	Near threatened
Eurasian hobby	Falco subbuteo	Least concerned
Peregrine falcon	Falco peregrinus	Least concerned
Himalayan snowcock	Tetraogallus tibetanus	Least concerned

See also

• List of national parks in Pakistan

References

1. "Shandur-Hundrup | DOPA Explorer". dopa-explorer.jrc.ec.europa.eu.
2. "Proposed Handarab National Park: Move to change Shandur pasture status triggers outrage in Chitral". www.thenews.com.pk.
3. "Hundrap National Park - Forest, Wildlife & Environment Department Government of Gilgit-Baltistan". fwegb.gov.pk. 20 January 2022.
4. "Shandur-Hundrup | DOPA Explorer". dopa-explorer.jrc.ec.europa.eu. Retrieved 2023-07-08.
5. "Shandur polo: A historical festival of Game of Kings to promote adventure sports concludes". 3 July 2022.
6. "Hundrap National Park". fwegb.gov.pk. Forest, Wildlife & Environment Department Government of Gilgit-Baltistan. Retrieved 14 December 2024.