KARACHI: The number of migratory birds arriving in the wetlands of Pakistan’s Sindh province has declined by nearly 15% compared to last year, according to the Sindh Wildlife Department on Saturday, raising alarm among conservationists about the impact of water scarcity and climate change on critical habitats.
A recently completed “Annual Waterfowl Survey” for the 2024–25 season recorded 545,258 migratory waterbirds at 30 major wetland sites across the province. The data show a 14.68% drop from the previous year’s count of 639,122 birds, with both surveys covering around 40% of Sindh’s total wetland area.
“The apparent reason for the decline in migratory bird numbers is the decrease in water bodies, as these migratory waterfowl are associated with wetlands and the availability of natural food therein,” Javed Ahmed Mehar, Conservator at the Sindh Wildlife Department, told Arab News.
“We plan to conduct a detailed study with relevant stakeholders to determine the causes of this decline [with greater certainty],” he added.
Wildlife photographer Shahbaz Alam, who has documented Sindh’s lakes and marshlands extensively, also attributed the drop to drying wetlands.
“These birds spend their day in the water, searching for food, and then move toward greener areas,” he said. “With Sindh facing severe water shortages and the drying of wetlands due to climate change, the habitat is simply vanishing.”
Describing the situation as “very alarming,” Alam said he had also noticed the decline over the years.
“Where we once saw thousands [of birds], we now see only hundreds,” he told Arab News.
Pakistan has 19 wetlands designated as Ramsar sites under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, an international treaty named after the Iranian city where it was adopted in 1971. The convention aims to conserve globally important wetlands and promote their sustainable use.
Together, these Pakistani sites span 1.34 million hectares. More than half are located in Sindh, including Keenjhar Lake, Haleji Lake, the Indus Delta, Jubho Lagoon and the Rann of Kutch. These wetlands have long served as critical stopovers for migratory birds traveling along the Indus Flyway, an avian route from Siberia and Central Asia.
Among the worst-hit areas this season was the Rann of Kutch Wildlife Sanctuary, which witnessed drought-like conditions, while Nareri Lagoon in Badin hosted the largest number— 155,068 birds.
According to Rasheed Ahmed Khan, who led the survey, the decline is directly related to the decrease in rainfall and the reduction of water bodies and wetlands.
“Due to a severe lack of rainfall last year, almost all dams in Tharparkar remained dry. If reduced rainfall continues due to climate change, there could be a significant decrease in the future,” he warned.
The survey team, comprising experts from the Sindh Wildlife Department and Zoological Survey of Pakistan, recorded over 57 species of migratory waterfowl. These included prominent sightings of Common Teal, Northern Shoveler, Indian Spot-Billed Duck, Cotton Pygmy Goose and Lesser Flamingo.
Endangered species like the Great White Pelican were also documented, highlighting the region’s ecological significance.
Sindh Wildlife Department reports nearly 15% drop in migratory birds amid drying wetlands
https://arab.news/rq3e6
Sindh Wildlife Department reports nearly 15% drop in migratory birds amid drying wetlands
- The annual waterfowl survey counts 545,258 birds this season, down from 639,122 last year
- Experts warn that continued habitat loss is likely to cause further decline in bird numbers
Pakistan killed over 80 militants in strikes on TTP camps in Afghanistan — official
- Saturday’s airstrikes followed a series of attacks inside Pakistan amid a surge in militancy
- The Afghan Taliban authorities accuse Pakistani forces of killing civilians in the airstrikes
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s airstrikes in Afghanistan destroyed seven Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) camps and killed over 80 militants, a Pakistani security official said on Sunday, with the Afghan Taliban accusing Pakistani forces of killing civilians in the assault.
Saturday’s airstrikes followed a series of attacks inside Pakistan amid a surge in militancy. Authorities say the attacks, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and the Pakistani capital of Islamabad, were carried out by the TTP and allied groups that Islamabad alleges are operating from sanctuaries in Afghanistan. Kabul denies this.
According to Pakistan’s information ministry, recent incidents included a suicide bombing at a Shiite mosque in Islamabad, separate attacks in Bajaur and Bannu, and another recent incident in Bannu during the holy month of Ramadan, which started earlier this week. The government said it had “conclusive evidence” linking the attacks to militants directed by leadership based in Afghanistan.
“Last night, Pakistan’s intelligence-based air strikes destroyed seven centers of Fitna Al-Khawarij TTP in three provinces of Nangarhar, Paktika and Khost, in which more than eighty Khawarij (TTP militants) have been confirmed killed, while more are expected,” a Pakistani security official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Arab News.
An earlier statement from Pakistan’s information ministry said the targets included a camp of a Daesh regional affiliate, the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), which claimed a suicide bombing at an Islamabad Shiite mosque that killed 32 people this month.
In an X post, Afghan government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said Pakistani forces had violated Afghan territory.
“Pakistani special military circles have once again trespassed into Afghan territory,” Mujahid said. “Last night, they bombed our civilian compatriots in Nangarhar and Paktika provinces, martyring and wounding dozens of people, including women and children.”
The Afghan Taliban’s claims of civilian casualties could not be independently verified. Pakistan did not immediately comment on the allegation that civilians had been killed in the strikes.
In a post on X, Afghanistan’s foreign ministry said it had summoned Pakistan’s charge d’affaires to Afghanistan Ubaid-ur-Rehman Nizamani and lodged protest through a formal démarche in response to the Pakistani military strikes.
“IEA-MoFA (The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs) vehemently condemns the violation of Afghanistan’s airspace and the targeting of civilians, describing it as a flagrant breach of Afghanistan’s territorial integrity & a provocative action,” it said in a statement.
“The Pakistani side was also categorically informed that safeguarding Afghanistan’s territorial integrity is the religious responsibility of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan; henceforth, the responsibility for any adverse consequences of such actions will rest with the opposing side.”
Tensions between Islamabad and Kabul have escalated since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in 2021. Pakistan says cross-border militant attacks have increased since then and has accused the Taliban of failing to honor commitments under the 2020 Doha Agreement to prevent Afghan soil from being used for attacks against other countries. The Taliban deny allowing such activity and have previously rejected similar accusations.
Saturday’s exchange of accusations marks one of the most direct confrontations between the two neighbors in recent months and risks further straining already fragile ties along the volatile border.
