44. Recent records of wildlife regarding their habitat and threats in northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
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Abstract
Wildlife play vital role in maintaining a balance in the biological ecosystems therefore extreme management and conservation is needed for wildlife population to prevent it from extinction. Current study was conducted from May 2020 to November 2021 to explore the recent wildlife fauna, their habitat analysis and major threats to wildlife fauna in Dir Upper, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. This study was carried out through direct and indirect methods by field visiting, interviewing of the local community and hunters about the current and past status of the wildlife fauna of the area. A total of (n=40) species were recorded belonging to 5 classes, 18 orders and 29 families in the study area. Orders recorded were Anura, Accipitriformes, Bucerotoformes, Strigiformes, Passeriformes, Galliformes, Psittaciformes, Anseriformes, Columbidiformes, Rodentia, Salmoniformes, Carnivora, Primates, Lagomorpha, Artiodactyla, Cetartiodactyle, Chiroptara and Squamata. The class Mammalia (18 species) and order Carnivora (9 species) were recorded grater in number. Wildlife fauna were found at risk of less hunting pressure and more habitat loss. This document will help to add new information regarding wildlife trends and its recent record to the pre-existing knowledge about wildlife of the country.
Keywords; Dir upper; Habitat; Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; Threats; Wildlife