Feral dogs in Chitral gol national park, Pakistan: a potential threat to the future of threatened Kashmir Markhor (Capra falconeri cashmiriensis)

Abstract

Feral dogs are well-organized hunters of ungulates in many parts of the world, causing great damage to wildlife populations and ultimately to the ecosystem. In Pakistan, the impacts of feral dogs on the wildlife have not been documented yet. In a period of fifteen years (2006-2020), feral dogs have killed hundreds of threatened markhor in Chitral gol national park (CGNP), Pakistan. Despite direct predation other impacts including disturbance and competition with other natural predators, could compromise conservation and management efforts. The population of feral dogs seems to have been increased with the increase of dumping sites by communities. Our findings suggest that there are pressing needs of controlling the feral dogs population and eradicating them from the core zone of CGNP and surrounding buffer communities. Conventional culling of dogs should be coupled with modern techniques like castration and sterilization. Communities should be educated regarding the clean environment, proper disposal of home wastes and, biodiversity conservation.

Density Pattern of Flare-Horned Markhor (Capra falconeri) in Northern Pakistan

“…The ongoing war and social conflict make the future of the species indeterminate [20]. In addition, Khattak et al [28] documented feral dogs' depredation as an important threat to markhor in Pakistan. Across its distribution range, markhors forage close to domestic goats [29], which are possible carriers of Mycoplasma capricolum which caused a fatal pneumonia outbreak in the markhor population [30].…”