Ardeola 52(1), 2005, 163-166 POPULATION ESTIMATES OF HOUBARA BUSTARD CHLAMYDOTIS UNDULATA MACQUEENII IN PUNJAB, PAKISTAN, NOVEMBER 1999 ESTIMA POBLACIONAL DE LA HUBARA CHLAMYDOTIS UNDULATA MACQUEENII EN EL PUNJAB, PAKISTAN, NOVIEMBRE 1999 Muhammad Sajid NADEEM* 1, M. Anwar MAAN**, Tariq MAHMOOD*** & Aasim Iqbal ABBASI**** Houbara Bustard Chlamydotis undulata in November 1999 to know the current popula- macqueenii is reportedly declining rapidly in tion status in the Province of Punjab, Pakistan. all the range states and its population believed Population estimates for Houbara were com- to be much less now than some 10-12 years pared following Simple Strip and Probability ago (Goriup, 1997). Rough estimates of the de- methods. Transects of 10 km length and 500 m clining rates from causal observations in diffe- wide (250 m on both sides) were studied, by rent parts of Balochistan indicate a declining driving 4 × 4 vehicle at a low speed (20 km/h) rate around 10% per annum (Mian 1984)and along the transect. Transects were undertaken an equivalent decline has been suggested for randomly at different prime habitats with use of Sind (Surahio 1985) and Iran (pers. obs.). one vehicle. Survey time was from sunrise to Falconry and the hunting of Houbara are de- 10:30 am and from 3 pm to sunset. The distan- eply integrated in Arab tradition and culture. ce of birds flushed was noted as an approxi- Since mid-1960s, Pakistan has hosted falco- mation and indirect clues such as footprints, ners from the Gulf countries who come to hunt droppings and feathers were noted on both si- Houbara Bustards. Until the mid 1980s, the des of transects. Fresh footprints and droppings hunting parties were estimated to kill between were considered while estimating the popula- 3,000 to 4,000 birds each year (Goriup 1983; tion. The data were analyzed following stan- Mian 1984). Mian & Dasti (1985) and Mian dard statistics (Tanner, 1978; Maan et.al., 1999; (1984) have also reported hunting activities in Nadeem et. al., 2004). Western Balochistan. According to them, in 1982-83 only, 5,000 to 6,000 birds were hun- Density, D = ng/2W (L). ted. In addition, there is poaching, trapping and smuggling to the Middle East by local hunters, Total population estimates, P = D × A where they are used to train the falcons. This harvest is considered to be between 4,000 and where, n = number of houbara groups obser- 7,000 birds (Goriup, 1997). ved, g = mean group size, 2W = width of tran- The status of Houbara Bustard has always sect on both side of transect, L = total length of been a controversial subject, probably due to all transects, A = total area of habitat. Correc- the extreme difficulties in counting the birds tion factor: Σ = sighting probability for distance in their natural environment. Although globally for houbara / probability of out of sight area threatened, it is reportedly declining in almost in the transect under study. every range state (Del Hoyo et. al., 1997). Go- Missing population in the study area and in riup (1997) described its status as vulnerable to the total habitat was calculated (modified from threatened. The present study was under taken Neter, et. al., 1979; Maan et. al., 1999; Nadeem * Zoology Department New Campus Punjab University Lahore, Pakistan. ** Deputy Director Punjab Wildlife Department 2-Sandha Road Lahore, Pakistan. *** Biology Department Gordon College Rawalpindi, Pakistan. **** Biology Department, Cadet College Hassan Abdal, Pakistan. 1 Corresponding autor: E-mail: [email protected] 164 NADEEM, M. S., MAAN, M. A., MAHMOOD, T. & ABBASI, A. I. et. al., 2004), to have precise and accurate po- of which 76.91% population was distributed in pulation estimates. Missing population = num- Cholistan, 12.87% in Thal and 10.22% in Ra- ber of sightings x mean group size x correc- janpur and Rojhan. The highest densities were tion factor. observed in Sadiqabad (0.214 birds/km2), In Punjab the total wintering habitat of Hou- Choubara (0.198) and Rahim Yar Khan bara Bustard extends up to 32,300 km2, Rajan- (0.181). Overall densities (1999) in three habi- pur/Rojhan shares 4,600 km2 (14.24%), Thal tats of Punjab were 0.108 ± 0.018, 0.166 ± 4,800 km2 (14.86%) and Cholistan 22,900 km2 0.022 and 0.163 ± 0.013 birds per km2 in Ra- (70.90%). These three habitats have different janpur/Rojhan, Thal and Cholistan respectively. set of ecological conditions and likewise sup- In Rajanpur/Rojhan area, 46 transects were port different vegetation cover. Cholistan and studied covering an area of 230 km2. The density Thal are sandy tracts with a desert climate. Ra- of Houbara was calculated as 0.108 birds per janpur/Rojhan is dominated by clay-clay loam km2. A total of 496 birds were estimated in area soil with little sand. Surveys for Houbara po- of 4,600 km2. The majority of the birds was ob- pulation in these areas were conducted and the served around Capparis plants. The distribution results are summarized in Table 1. of Houbara density in different localities was The population of Houbara was estimated as also calculated (Table 1). The highest density 4,854 to 6,268 birds in the Punjab during 1999, was 0.162 birds per km2 in Rojhan, while in Ra- TABLE 1 Houbara distribution in different localities of Punjab, Pakistan in November 1999. [Distribución de las Hubaras en diferentes localidades del Punjab, Pakistan, en noviembre de 1999.] Habitat Total area of Number of Number of Surveyed Density Estimated [Hábitat] habitat (km2) houbara observed transects area (km2) per km2 Population [Área total [Número de Hubaras [Número de [Área [Densidad [Población (km2)] observadas] transectos] prospectada por km2] estimada] (km2)] Rajanpur/Rojhan Rajanpur 3,000 5 + 7 (footprints) 30 150 0.079 ± 0.022 237 Rojhan 1,600 6 + 7 (footprints) 16 80 0.162 ± 0.050 259 Overall 4,600 11 + 14 (footprints) 46 230 0.108 ± 0.018 496 Thal Choubara 1,632 4 + 15 (footprints) 19 95 0.198 ± 0.048 323 Mankera 1,270 2 + 14 (footprints) 18 90 0.177 ± 0.048 225 Muzaffargarh 862 0 + 5 (footprints) 11 55 0.090 ± 0.049 77 Overall 3,764 6 + 34 (footprints) 48 240 0.166 ± 0.022 625 Cholistan Sadiqabad 2,098 1 + 14 (footprints) 14 70 0.214 ± 0.064 449 Rahim Yar Khan 7,953 14 + 26 (footprints) 44 220 0.181 ± 0.025 1,439 Yazman 10,857 7 + 10 (footprints) 22 110 0.154 ± 0.038 1,672 Fort Abbas 1,992 5 + 2 (footprints) 16 80 0.087 ± 0.001 173 Overall 22,900 27 + 52 (footprints) 96 480 0.163 ± 0.013 3,733 Total Punjab 31,264 44 + 100 (footprints) 190 950 0.152 ± 0.008 4,854 NOTE: Athara Hazari area of Thal (1,036 km2) could not be surveyed due to logistic problems. Ardeola 52(1), 2005, 163-166 HOUBARA BUSTARD IN PUNJAB 165 janpur it was 0.079 birds per km2. A total 25 According to the probability method Houbara (11 + 14 footprints) was recorded in (Table 2), 66% of the Houbara population was 22 groups. Maximum group size was three birds. distributed up to 100m from the observer and The missing population due to sand dunes observed with a probability of 0.666 due to vi- and vegetation cover in Rajanpur/Rojhan was sibility factor of the transect under study, while estimated using the probability method 34% of the population was distributed up to (Table 2). This indicates that 60% of the Hou- 200m and observed with a probability 0.333. bara population was distributed up to 100m The missing population in Thal was estimated from transect line and observed with a proba- as 240 birds. Therefore, the total population bility of 0.545 due to visibility factor of transect was 625 to 865 birds in Thal. under study; 40% population was distributed In Cholistan, 96 transects were studied co- up to 200m and observed with a probability of vering an area of 480 km2. The density was 0.455. The missing population was estimated as 0.163 birds/km2 while the total estimated po- 220 birds. Therefore 496 to 716 Houbara were pulation was 3,733 birds. The distribution of present in Rajanpur/Rojhan area. population in different areas of Cholistan is gi- The area is abundant in high sand dunes. ven in Table 1. The highest density was in Sa- These dunes are barren and used for Chickpea diqabad 0.214 birds/km2 followed by 0.181, Cicer arietinum cultivation by the locals. There 0.154, 0.087 for Rahim Yar Khan, Yazman and are some patches of thick vegetation between Fort Abbas respectively. In total, 79 Houbara the dunes and low-lying areas. Houbara love (27 + 52 footprints) were recorded in 69 groups to feed on Chickpea but disturbance caused by and the maximum group size was three birds. agricultural activities of local people in Octo- The probability method (Table 2) indicates ber/November forces them to move adjacent that 74% Houbara population was distributed areas. On other hand, in Thal Houbara arrive up to 100m from transect line and observed after mid November and stay there and enjoy with probability of 0.741 due to visibility factor the Chickpea crop. The annual expansion of of transect under study, while 26% population agricultural areas is a great threat to the winte- was distributed from 100 to 200m and observed ring population of Houbara in Thal. with probability 0.259. The missing population In Thal area, 48 transects were taken cove- in Cholistan was calculated as 954 birds. Thus, ring an area of 240 km2.