Baltistan Wildlife Sanctuary, Wildlife sanctuary in Baltistan, Pakistan.
Baltistan Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area in Pakistan situated south of the Indus River between Rondu and Shengus villages. This 415-square-kilometer region contains mountain terrain, mixed forest patches, and open grasslands that support varied wildlife habitats.
The sanctuary was established in 1975 to address habitat loss and declining wildlife populations in the region. This protection effort reflected growing concerns about preserving mountain ecosystems and their animal inhabitants.
Local communities living nearby see the sanctuary as part of their homeland and rely on its forests for traditional grazing practices. People in surrounding villages have learned to coexist with wildlife over generations, adapting their routines to seasonal animal movements.
Visitors need permission from the Wildlife and Parks Department of Gilgit-Baltistan before entering the sanctuary grounds. It helps to contact local authorities ahead of time to learn about current access conditions and any specific guidelines for visitors.
The sanctuary is home to snow leopards and Tibetan wolves, species found in only a handful of places worldwide. The Astore markhor, Pakistan's national animal, lives here among brown bears and other mountain species.
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