r/megafaunarewilding

Text from the poem 'Immortality' by Clare Harner

https://xcancel.com/i/status/2082513896951202212

The Kirthar Range, forms the natural boundary between the Pakistani provinces of Sindh and Balochistan. From the coast of the Arabian sea at Cape Monze, the range extends ~200 miles northwards to the debouch of the Mula river. Altitude ranges from sea level to 7,438 feet at its highest point at Zardak peak.

Two distinct habitat types are predominant: i). Monsoon-influenced arid subtropical forest (humid summers/mild but dry winters; Euphorbia caducifolia, Nannorrhops ritchieana, Senegalia senegal, Ziziphus nummularia etc.), and ii). Tropical thorn forest (Capparis decidua, Prosopis cineraria, Salvadora persica, Suaeda fruticosa etc.), additionally the Indus river skirts the east of the range, and although now predominantly under cultivation, it would've been surrounded by a 4-12 miles wide Tamarix dioica & Tripidium bengalense riverine forest.

3 PAs exist on the range i.e. Kirthar National Park, Mahal Kohistan Wildlife Sanctuary, and Sumbak-Surjan Game Reserve. Additionally the Hab Dam Wildlife Sanctuary borders the national park to the south.

1. Indian wolf (Canis lupus pallipes) The most abundant surviving large carnivore in the area although that isn't saying much. Extended into the adjoining Hub river valley and even into suburban Karachi up to the 1970s. Frequently a victim of retaliatory killings by farmers and herders;

2. Balochistan black bear (Ursus thibetanus gedrosianus) The smallest subspecies of the Asiatic black bear, with its shorter coarser fur often reddish-brown in colour. Commonly associated with Nannorrhops ritchieana. Most likely extinct within the range itself, although one was recently (November, 2025) killed in the nearby Pab range.

3. Striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) Possibly still extant, although not definitively recorded recently.

4. Asiatic lion (Panthera leo leo/persica) Recorded from Manchchar Lake in the 1810s.

5. Persian leopard (Panthera pardus tulliana) Kirthar is the type locality of junior synonym P. p. sindica the coat of which was described as "fulvous-buff type, richer than in the typical Persian panthers but very decidedly paler than in the average Indian form". A small, ever decreasing population most likely still persists, one juvenile was killed as recently as Januaray, 2024.

6. Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) Not known from Kirthar itself, its recent range along the Indus not extending south of Sukkur, it is likely to be found in the region as the rulers (Jams) of Las Bela immediately to the west were reported to hunt both lions and tigers in their territory.

7. Asiatic cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus venaticus) Described in the 1880s as "[leopard and cheetah] affect the hills approaching the Indus, where both prey on the gazelle... [it] seldom emerges from its hilly retreat". Allegedly sighted in the surrounding lowlands as late as the 1960s.

8. Khur/Indian wild ass (Equus hemionus khur) Extinct. Kirthar (and trans-Indus) population have been suggested to form an intergrade between E. h. onager and E. h. khur. Chenopodium and Euphorbia species that form a part of the diet of this species are common throughout valleys in Kirthar,

9. Wild pig (Sus scrofa davidi) Common

10. Hog deer (Axis porcinus) Small, isolated populations survive in reserved forests along the length of the Indus. Likely also existed along the shores of the shores of the Manchhar lake within the last 200 years.

11. Barasingha (Rucervus duvaucelii duvaucelii) Although not reported from lower Sindh, having been extirpated from its haunts around Sukkur and Rohri in the 1890s/1900s, it likely ranged further south when favourable habitat still existed, similar to the tiger.

12. Blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra) Introduced in the 1980s. Managed as a semi-wild population.

13. Chinkara (Gazella bennettii fuscifrons) Classed as vulnerable within Kirthar National Park. As of 1997 "still widespread in Lasbela, and a few survive in the ravines at the base of the Kirthar range in Sindh and around Dadu district in the Lakhi Hills".

14. Sindh ibex (Capra aegagrus) Sindh ibex were originally described as a subspecies of wild goat - C. a. blythi although distinction from the nominate form has recently been questioned. Fairly common, herds of up to 80 individuals are still seen. 1,200 sighted in 2013 in Kirthar National Park, 3,100 in total estimated for Sindh in the late 1980s.

15. Gud/Sindh urial (Ovis vignei cycloceros) Common. Found throughout Kirthar, Sindh Kohistan, and the Pab range. Up to 1,350 estimated in the late 1980s.

16. Mugger (Crocodylus palustris) Previously found in the both the Indus and the Hab rivers, as well as in Manchhar lake, it presently restricted to a small remnant population in the Hab Dam Wildlife Sanctuary.

17. Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) Extinct in the Indus since the 1980s.

Is it possible for one of the 27 modern crocodile species to exist in Europe? If so, in which regions and how would this affect ecosystems?

Edit: Many people in the comments under the post got really angry about this topic, so I made this post just for fun. I love crocodiles and reptiles in general and I live in Europe. So just speculate on this topic as with a similar post about big cats in the Carpathians.

All of them to me are special.

But Amur Leopard who lives in snowy habitats(not that other Leopards dont do it too.But Amur Leopards are in much more diverse snowy habitats)is one of my faivorites.It is just so amazing how they survive such high places/travel thru mountains and are able to fend off wolves + survive colder enviorments.

Arabian Leopard to me is cutest.Cause they are smallest and have grey/whiteish natural fur(not created thru inbreeding like how some Zoo's market White Wild Cats).

Persian Leopard is the giga-chad for being largest.

Sir Lankan and Javan Leopards are one of the only Big Cats(Panthera)that live on islands today(tho Sumatran Tiger and Sunda Clouded Leopard who lives in Borneo/Sumatra).It is so cool and amazing conservation to still have big panthera cats on islands.

They are all awesome! 🐆

1.great jerboa (allactaga major)-now restricted to eastern europe and central asia, once lived all across central europe
sources: https://twilightbeasts.org/2014/07/09/crazy-cute-ice-age-animal-youve-never-heard-of/, https://opac.geologie.ac.at/ais312/dokumente/BR0132_047.pdf

there are also many other non-cricetid muroids in europe but as said their ranges had no or almost none confirmed changes during last ~150k years so they are not worth mentioning here
list of them all (and all modern european mammals)- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mammals_of_Europe

Iranian conservationists go above and beyond for there animals but I think many people overlook Iranian conservationists a bit(not that people dont know about Iranian Asiatic Cheetah and there struggles).But there is a struggle of people who are trying to save them too.

Irans wildlife isnt just Asiatic Cheetah but a whole network of bio-diversity:Wild Ass/Deer/Bear/Wild Boar/Antilopes/Persian Leopard and many more.The habitats can be very diverse.From deserts to grasslands and more elevated places.Many herbivores and carnivores inhabit these places.

From the first picture(Top row from left:Niloufar Bayani;Taher Ghadirian;Houman Jowkar and Sepideh Kashani.Bottom row from left:Amirhossein Khaleghi Hamidi;Abdolreza Kouhpayeh;Sam Radjabi and Morad Tahbaz)/Kavous Seyed Emami(in the second picture)/his son Ramin Emami(in the third picture).And many others are some of the most caring and deeply devoted to nature conservationists there are.

They where working in Persian Wildlife Foundation(while it was still running)with many other conservationists.

To protect the wildlife of Iran.

Protecting Asiatic Cheetahs from the road Meyami-Sabzevar between there protected areas.Making wildlife crossings between the road and adding fences to protect the Cheetahs(guide them to not go near unprotected road parts).

Going to Africa and seeing how there captive-release Cheetah program works.Captivley breeding Cheetahs.Tracking and monitoring Cheetahs and working with local people for less poaching.Making first successes in captively breeding Asiatic Cheetahs(even tho all 3 cubs did die eventually before reaching adulthood..).

Monitoring a lot of species and a lot of critically endangered ones like Asian Black Bear(Ursus thibetanus gedrosianus)going and raising awarness about them.

Helping herbivores with grasslands and monitoring Persian Leopards.

But the challenges they face are unlike most conservationists have to deal with

All of the conservationists I mentioned(except Ramin Emami)have been arrested because of the suspction that they where using the camera traps to film Iran illegally and sell data to USA and Israel in 2018.Of course the charges didnt actually have much proof behind them(the cause wasnt exactly determined either.Looking back many journalists bring up the Panthera USA based organisation for it.Cause it did help the Persian WildLife Foundation.And its CEO was a millionare who was working against Iran Thomas Kaplan).Whatever the reason may be the charges stuck(everyone was convicted in 2019.Not by papers but verbally.Again journalist point to foul play in the system).Kavous Seyed Emami died in prison shortly after his arrest(the cause told by the government and not further investigated upon.His sons doubt this claim).

The rest where released around 2024(after serving for a crime that again wasnt propely pointed out to them what they did wrong).There families where told by government to not further speak about the events.The eight conservationists after being released still cant continue there work(cause of 2 year ban after serving there sentences).

The problems for conservationists dont just stop there.War and sanctions prohibit other conservationists that wherent charged with anything from taking good camera-traps for monitoring population numbers.The cars people use for conservation are also not so awailable anymore.Satellite pictures are a out of the question too.

Up to 60% of places are out of jobs for conservationists in many protected areas.

Not to mention conservationist ranger cars can be mistaken for war cars and be struck down by heavy weaponry in a war.Leading to deaths of conservationists.

But people in Iran never give up even if they cant get funding from the other nations do to sanctions and even with these problems.They never give up.

Because they see hope in nature.In Asiatic Cheetah as symbol of hope and many other animals.They care for wildlife enough to die for it.And I think thats some of the most devoted conservation work I have ever seen(just like how people climb to trees to stop them from being cut).

Lets celebrate these amazing people and how they protect there animals!!!

(also sorry if I messed up any of there names...I had to fit a lot of text here..).

Will link all articles about these events down in the comments(cant fit it all here).