Khunjerab National Park
Khunjerab National Park (KNP) or KNP (34*44’N-75*17’E) is located in Hunza district (GoGB KNP). It was established in 1975. The primary purpose of setting up of this park was to provide protection to the endangered Marco polo sheep, which is only found in this area in Pakistan. The park is also famous for its Snow Leopards.
Khunjerab National Park is spread across an area of 2, 27,143 , and at an elevation of 17,000 ft within the Karakorum-West Tibetan biodiversity region, amidst the Karakorum Range Mountains on Pakistan-China border in Upper Hunza. The National Park is home to alpine flora along with many endangered and threatened species and boasts to be the 3rd largest national park in Pakistan. Wildlife includes, Snow leopard (Threatened), Marco polo Sheep (Endangered), Himalayan Ibex, Blue Sheep, Siberian Ibex, Brown Bear (Threatened), Blue Sheep (Vulnerable).66 Species of birds found: Golden Eagle, Himalayan Snowcock, Himalayan Griffon vulture (Near Threatened).
Mammals
- Tibetan wolf
- Himalayan ibex
- Tibetan red fox
- Golden marmots
- Himalayan Brown Bear
- Snow Leopard
- Stone Martin
- Marco Polo Sheep
- Cape Hare
Birds
- Lammegier vulture
- Golden Eagle
- Himalayan griffon vulture
- Eurasian black vulture
- Marsh harrier
- Eurasian sparrow hawk
- Eurasian kestrel
- Lesser kestrel
- Saker falcon
- Peregrine falcon
- Himalayan Snow cock
- Snow partridge
- Chukar
- Grey heron
- Common sandpiper
- Hill pigeon
- Snow pigeon
- Northern eagle owl
- Eurasian cuckoo
- Common swallow
- Magpie
- Alpine cough
- Raven
Plants
- Artemisia spp
- Juniperus excelsa
- Rosa webbiana
- Myricaria germanica
- Hippophae rhamnoides
- Populus nepalensis
- Salix spp
- Betula utilis
Camping Villages:
The once booming tourism industry of Pakistan has gone through a sharp decline because of the security situation, especially in areas that were once considered the tourist hubs of the country (UNDP Pakistan). The unemployment rate across the KP province is high, particularly in the case of youth, who constitute to over 30% of the population. UNDP is supporting the Department of Tourism, Sports, Culture, Architecture & Youth Affairs, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) in setting up ‘camping villages’ in scenic locations across the province. By fostering tourism, UNDP hopes to revitalize the economy of the region by providing lucrative and sustainable employment and business opportunities to the local population, especially the youth. The establishment of camping villages is a unique and novel idea to foster tourism in Pakistan. In addition to providing livelihoods to the local youth, this initiative provides tourists with an opportunity to partake in adventure tourism, understand eco-friendly tourism, and witness the beauty of the country.
