ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF FAUNA at Khyberani Forest, District Matiari, Sindh Baseline Survey 2010 - 2011 Indus for All Programme, WWF – Pakistan 1 Table of Contents List of Acronyms ................................................................................................................ 7 Executive Summary ............................................................................................................ 9 Chapter 1:Introduction ...................................................................................................... 11 1.1.1 Introduction to Khyberani Forest ............................................................................. 11 1.1.2 State of biodiversity ................................................................................................. 11 1.1.3 Livelihood and Social aspects .................................................................................. 12 1.2 Rationale and objectives ............................................................................................. 12 1.2.1 Large Mammals Survey ........................................................................................... 12 1.2.1.1 Rationale ............................................................................................................... 12 1.2.1.2 Objectives of the study: ........................................................................................ 13 1.2.2 Small mammal survey.............................................................................................. 13 1.2.2.1 Rationale ............................................................................................................... 13 1.2.2.2 Objectives of the study: ........................................................................................ 16 1.2.3 Reptiles and amphibians .......................................................................................... 16 1.2.3.1 Rationale ............................................................................................................... 16 1.2.3.2 Objectives of the study: ........................................................................................ 17 1.2.4 Birds ......................................................................................................................... 17 1.2.4.1 Rationale ............................................................................................................... 17 1.2.4.2 Objectives of the study: ........................................................................................ 17 1.2.5 Physico-chemical properties of water ................................................................ 18 1.2.5.1 Objectives of the study.......................................................................................... 18 CHAPTER 2: Material And Methods ............................................................................... 19 2.1 Large Mammals .......................................................................................................... 19 2.1.1 Team Composition ................................................................................................... 19 2.1.2 Point surveys ............................................................................................................ 19 2.1.3 Roadside Counts ...................................................................................................... 19 2.1.4 Track Counts ............................................................................................................ 19 2.1.5 Line transects ........................................................................................................... 20 2.1.6 Pellet counts ............................................................................................................. 20 2.1.7 Interviews with local residents................................................................................. 20 2.1.8 Equipments and Field Kit ........................................................................................ 21 2.2 Small Mammals .......................................................................................................... 21 2.2.1 Bait ........................................................................................................................... 21 2.2.2 Traps and trapping procedure .................................................................................. 21 2.2.3 Data collection ......................................................................................................... 22 2.3 Reptiles and amphibians ............................................................................................. 22 2.3.1 Survey method ......................................................................................................... 22 2.3.2 Active searching....................................................................................................... 22 2.3.3 Trapping ................................................................................................................... 23 2.3.4 Signs ......................................................................................................................... 23 2.3.5 Collection ................................................................................................................. 23 Indus for All Programme, WWF – Pakistan 2 2.3.6 Data Records ............................................................................................................ 24 2.3.7 Preservation.............................................................................................................. 24 2.3.8 Identification of species ........................................................................................... 24 2.3.9 Data analysis ............................................................................................................ 24 2.4 Birds ............................................................................................................................ 25 2.4.1 Survey method ......................................................................................................... 25 2.4.2 Evaluation of water bird numbers ............................................................................ 25 2.4.3 Methods of accurate count ....................................................................................... 26 2.5 Physico-chemical Properties of Water ........................................................................ 26 CHAPTER 3: Findings and Dicussion ............................................................................ 27 3.1 Large mammals ........................................................................................................... 27 3.1.1 Sampling locations ................................................................................................... 27 3.1.2 Species identified ..................................................................................................... 27 3.1.2 Conservation Status of Recorded Mammals ............................................................ 28 3.1.5 Threats and recommendations ................................................................................. 29 3.1.5.1 Threats................................................................................................................... 29 3.1.5.2 Recommendations ................................................................................................. 29 3.2 Small Mammals .......................................................................................................... 30 3.2.1 Sample locations ...................................................................................................... 30 3.2.2 Species account ........................................................................................................ 30 3.2.3 Feeding habits .......................................................................................................... 32 3.2.5 Threats and recommendations ................................................................................. 34 3.2.5.1 Threats................................................................................................................... 34 3.2.5.2 Recommendations ................................................................................................. 35 3.3 Reptiles and amphibians ............................................................................................. 35 3.3.1 Sample locations ...................................................................................................... 35 3.2.2 Summary .................................................................................................................. 35 3.3.3 Species richness: ...................................................................................................... 37 Shannon’s Index: .............................................................................................................. 37 3.3.4 Discussion ................................................................................................................ 42 3.3.5 Threats and recommendations ................................................................................. 42 3.3.5.1 Threats................................................................................................................... 42 3.3.5.2 Recommendations ................................................................................................