From Chinkara to Falcons, Sheikh Zayed’s vision lives on in deserts of Cholistan
Deer Breeding Centre
Nature and its conservation always had a special place in the philosophy of Late H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan’s (May his soul rest in peace) , who implored his people to leave the land as good, if not better, than we found it. The holistic approach is reflected in Abu Dhabi’s international efforts where nature conservation is stressed over artificial human developments / activities boundaries. His Highness desired that Deer species be re-populated and propagated in the suitable natural habitat. Consequently, a Deer Breeding Centre (DBC) spread over an area of 5500 acres under H.H Sheikh Zayed Wildlife Conservation Programme was constructed in 1997 next to the Abu Dhabi Palace in Rahim Yar Khan. The breeding program of Chinkara Gazelles started with a view to raise substantial numbers to translocate/repopulate other areas where the animal species had been depleted due to illegal hunting and poaching.
The ungulates’ population has since multiplied and thriving in a professionally secured environment of this Centre discouraging intrusions and illegal hunting. This resulted in healthy growth of Chinkara in semi-wild conditions of this Centre.
As per His Highness’s Directive, Deer Foundation International Pakistan (DFIP) and Human Welfare & Nature Conservation Society (HWNCS) in collaboration with Government of Punjab and Department of Private Affairs of His Highness Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan released the first batch of 400 Chinkaras in Cholistan Desert, Rahim Yar Khan in 2004. Since than 3407 Chinkaras have been translocated to other provincial Enclosures and habitats for its propagation.
Houbara Research & Rehabilitation Centre
Houbara falconry has been an essential part of Arab heritage and culture for centuries and is still an integral and favourite sport. Pakistan is a range country where the resident population is found in Balochistan and migratory population arrives for wintering in South Punjab, Sindh and remaining area of Balochistan. Since 1995 Houbara Foundation International Pakistan (HFIP) has spearheaded efforts to conserve the dwindling species and facilitated rehabilitation and release of captive-bred houbaras in the wild. The late H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan (May his soul rest in peace) was an avid falconer and keenly supported especially the conservation of houbara and wildlife in general in Pakistan. Resultantly Houbara Research & Rehabilitation Centre (HRRC), Salluwali, Rahim Yar Khan, Cholistan Desert and Houbara Research Rehabilitation & Breeding Centre (HRRBC) in Kirchi - Nag Valley, Balochistan were established in 1997.
IFHC (International Fund for Houbara Conservation) Abu Dhabi, is a global organization designed to conserve houbara which has an iconic value in Arab Conservation Culture. It runs the most scientifically advanced research and breeding programmes for houbara through NARC (National Avian Research Centre) Sweihan - Abu Dhabi, H.H. Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Houbara Breeding Centre - Seih Al Salam, Abu Dhabi (SKHBC-AD), Emirates Centre for Wildlife Propagation (ECWP) Missour, Morocco and H.H Sheikh Khalifa Houbara Breeding Centre, Kazakhstan (SKHBC-K). The collaboration between IFHC and HFIP in research, release and rehabilitation projects has been an inspiring journey that has resulted in release of approximately 20,000 birds in the wild of Pakistan.
Large scale cultivation of desert flora, especially mustard fields in Cholistan Desert provides food for houbara post-release in Punjab & Balochistan, besides Aerial Seed broadcast in collaboration with the Pakistan Army in Cholistan Desert, Rahim Yar Khan is undertaken annually to augment the habitat. Several Tobas developed in Cholistan provide water for inhabitants and their livestock. HWNCS remains involved round the year to ensure that water sources retain sufficient storage to actively support human and wildlife far and deep in the desert.
Conservation Breeding Centre – (CBC)
Passion of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan (The President of UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi) for conservation stemmed from his close association with nature especially the desert and its flora & fauna. His Highness has truly carried forward the legacy of his illustrious Father, Late His Highness Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al-Nahyan (May his soul rest in peace). In the relentless pursuit of conservation objectives, CBC, a landmark project and the first of its kind in Pakistan, was sponsored by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in Lal Sohanra, Cholistan Desert in 2014. It is a highly guarded desert expanse spread across 165 sq. Km (40,772.4 acres), where Chinkaras, Black Bucks and Blue Bull along with other natural species thrive unencumbered with minimal human signature. Regular seeding of flora through conventional and aerial means is carried out to ensure feed for the fauna in abundance. 23x Existing Tobas (23) in the area are maintained/recharged watchfully through HWNCS water bowsers in all seasons. The flourishing projects which are actively improving the natural habitat to support wildlife are a vivid acknowledgment of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s manifest service to nature.
Great Indian Bustard
A critically endangered species whose total population was estimated to be approximately 300 in 2008 by IUCN, is another interesting phenomenon. The species endemic to Indo-Pak subcontinent with estimated population of 25 – 30 resides in Cholistan. It is an excellent indicator of the obtaining grassland ecosystems but since 2004 GIB had been sighted only intermittently. To evaluate its presence, a survey was undertaken by a composite team of experts from IFHC, NARC (Abu Dhabi), WWF Pakistan, Zoological survey of Pakistan and HFIP which successfully sighted 15 x GIBs between 2 – 6 March 2020. Subsequently to protect the rare GIB and its habitat, several measures were recommended to enhance the protected area, restrict special shooting permits in Cholistan Game Reserve and conduct similar surveys in Cholistan Desert to determine population status. Meanwhile in 2023 Government of Punjab, Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries Department notified the designated area as Wildlife Sanctuary for GIB in Tehsil Yazman, Bahawalpur. The enrolment for required strength of 35xWildlife Watchers is in hand.
Annual Falcon Release Programme
Falcon Foundation International Pakistan (FFIP) was established in 1995 to work for conservation of falcons. It’s a non-government organization and has been working in close harmony with Government Departments, leading experts and Environment Agency, Abu Dhabi, UAE. H.H the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan (May his soul rest in peace) was an avid falconer and conservationist who patronized Falcon Release Project. He desired that the release programs should be held in Natural Habitat of Falcons in Pakistan and be designed to provide maximum data to scientists for learning the migratory routes and re-integration of falcons in the wild. Under the project, FFIP collaborated in release of over 1000 Saker & Peregrine falcons at Skardu, Gilgit, Hunza, Chitral and Gwadar over the years. Pursuing H.H Sheikh Zayed’s legacy, UAE led the effort to have falconry placed on UNESCO’s Representative List as ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity’ in 2010. It was the largest ever nomination in history of UNESCO convention and described as outstanding example of cooperation between nations.
“We have to strike a balance of responsibility between our duty to update other sources of energy, protecting our environment and ensuring a proper legacy for the next generation” said Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan.
