Deva Vatala National Park

Deva Vatala National Park is a protected area located in the Bhimber District, Kashmir, Pakistan. The park was initially declared a game reserve in 1982, covering an area of 500 hectares. In 2007, it was upgraded to a national park with a significant expansion, increasing its total area to approximately 2,993 hectares (about 29.9 square kilometers or 11.2 square miles).

Situated within the Lower Himalayan Range, the park features a diverse terrain of hilly landscapes and plains, with elevations ranging from 267 to 536 meters (876 to 1,759 feet) above sea level. The vegetation primarily consists of tropical thorn forests, including Acacia species and various evergreen trees, supporting a rich ecosystem typical of the region.

Biodiversity

Flora

The park’s vegetation includes dominant tree species such as Acacia modesta, Dalbergia sissoo, and Vachellia nilotica. Shrubs like Lantana camara, Ziziphus nummularia, and Dodonaea viscosa are also prevalent.

Fauna

Deva Vatala National Park is home to a diverse range of wildlife. Notably, it hosts Pakistan’s only population of the red junglefowl (Gallus gallus murghi), the wild ancestor of domestic chickens. Other mammals include the Indian leopard (Panthera pardus fusca), golden jackal (Canis aureus), Indian grey mongoose (Herpestes edwardsii), small Indian civet (Viverricula indica), Cape hare (Lepus capensis), wild boar (Sus scrofa), nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus), hog deer (Axis porcinus), and Indian porcupine (Hystrix indica).

Avifauna

The park is significant for bird conservation, supporting species such as the Indian peafowl (Pavo cristatus), black francolin (Francolinus francolinus), grey francolin (Francolinus pondicerianus), mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), northern shoveler (Anas clypeata), and Eurasian coot (Fulica atra). A study conducted from June 2017 to May 2018 recorded 52 bird species in the park, including the globally threatened sociable lapwing (Vanellus gregarious).

Reptiles

Reptilian species in the park include the Indian python (Python molurus), king cobra (Ophiophagus hannah), and Bengal monitor (Varanus bengalensis).

Conservation Challenges

The red junglefowl faces several threats in the park, primarily due to human activities. A study identified egg collection (88%), hunting (16.4%), disturbance (12%), chick capturing (9.6%), and habitat degradation (9.2%) as major threats. Shepherds, hunters, and farmers were noted as the primary groups contributing to these threats.