Report on Rare Felid Sightings and Conservation Imperatives in Pakistan

Introduction and Key Findings

This report details the recent confirmed sightings of two rare small cat species in Pakistan, the Asiatic caracal (Caracal caracal schmitzi) and the sand cat (Felis margarita). These findings are of high ecological significance, providing critical data for species previously considered critically endangered or possibly extinct within the nation. The sightings underscore the urgent need for targeted conservation efforts that align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 15 (Life on Land).

• Species Sighted: Asiatic caracal and sand cat, both highly endangered in Pakistan.
• Significance: Provides the first camera-trap evidence of a caracal and confirms the continued presence of the sand cat, a species the IUCN lists as “possibly extinct” in the region.
• Primary Threats: Habitat degradation from resource extraction, human-wildlife conflict, and insufficient conservation funding.
• SDG Relevance: The situation directly impacts SDG 15 (Life on Land), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and highlights the need for progress on SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Species Documentation and Conservation Status

Asiatic Caracal (Caracal caracal schmitzi)

A camera trap operated by the Indus Fishing Cat Project in Kirthar National Park recorded the first-ever such image of a caracal in Pakistan. This provides crucial evidence of the species’ persistence.

• Global Status: Listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.
• National Status: Considered critically endangered in Pakistan, with an estimated population of approximately 100 individuals.
• Knowledge Gap: A 2023 academic paper noted a lack of comprehensive information on the caracal’s distribution or abundance in Pakistan, a gap this sighting begins to address.

Sand Cat (Felis margarita)

A photographic record of a sand cat was captured in Nushki, Balochistan. This sighting is highly significant as the IUCN lists the species as “possibly extinct” in Pakistan, and it is poorly documented in South Asia.

• Ecological Importance: The sighting provides valuable baseline data, helping to map the species’ current range and build a case for its inclusion in national conservation strategies.
• Conservation Value: Confirmed records are essential for challenging the species’ “unknown” status and advocating for protective measures.

Threats to Biodiversity and Linkages to Sustainable Development Goals

Habitat Degradation: A Challenge to SDG 11 and SDG 12

Kirthar National Park, the site of the caracal sighting, faces significant threats from human activity, directly undermining SDG 15 (Life on Land).

• Unsustainable Production (SDG 12): Sand and gravel mining operations within the national park supply construction projects for the megacity of Karachi. This extraction disrupts habitats, threatens water sources, and creates pollution.
• Unsustainable Urbanization (SDG 11): The rapid, large-scale development of Karachi is driving the demand for these natural resources, converting green belts and placing immense pressure on adjacent protected ecosystems.
• Weak Institutions (SDG 16): The occurrence of resource extraction within a designated national park points to challenges in the enforcement of environmental protections and governance.

Human-Wildlife Conflict and Conservation Funding

Direct threats to the survival of these small cats persist, highlighting systemic issues in conservation financing and community engagement.

1. Retaliatory Killings: Conflict with local populations over livestock is a major threat to small cat species. A juvenile caracal was recently reported killed by local people within the national park.
2. Funding Disparities: Small wildcats receive a fraction of global conservation funding (approximately 3%), with the majority directed toward large, charismatic cat species. This gap impedes necessary research and conservation action in Pakistan.

Recommendations and Path Forward

Aligning Conservation with Global Goals

The recent sightings offer a critical opportunity to galvanize support for small cat conservation in Pakistan. A multi-faceted approach is required, leveraging partnerships as outlined in SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Proposed Conservation Strategy

• Enhance Research and Monitoring: Use the new data to expand research on species distribution, habitat preferences, and population viability to inform conservation strategies, directly supporting SDG 15.5 (halt biodiversity loss).
• Strengthen Community Engagement: Expand awareness programs and establish compensation schemes to mitigate human-wildlife conflict, fostering coexistence between communities and wildlife.
• Develop National Strategies: Advocate for the inclusion of small cats in national conservation policies, backed by the new photographic evidence.
• Foster Partnerships (SDG 17): Strengthen collaboration between local NGOs like the Indus Fishing Cat Project, international bodies such as the Small Wild Cat Conservation Foundation, and government authorities to pool resources and expertise.

It is hoped that these significant findings will stimulate scientific and public interest, leading to enhanced protection and the sustainable management of Pakistan’s unique biodiversity, in line with the nation’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article primarily addresses issues related to biodiversity, conservation, and threats to terrestrial ecosystems, which directly connects to several Sustainable Development Goals. The main SDGs identified are:

• SDG 15: Life on Land: This is the most relevant SDG, as the article’s core focus is on the conservation of threatened terrestrial species (Asiatic caracal and sand cat), the protection of their habitats (Kirthar National Park), and the threats they face from habitat degradation and human-wildlife conflict.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The article links the threats to the national park directly to urban expansion. The demand for construction materials for the “massive development” in the megacity of Karachi drives the “sand and gravel mining” that degrades the cats’ habitat, connecting conservation issues to sustainable urban development.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The conservation efforts described in the article are a clear example of multi-stakeholder partnerships. An NGO (Indus Fishing Cat Project) collaborates with local partners, international experts (from the Small Wild Cat Conservation Foundation), and global authorities (like the IUCN) to conduct research and raise awareness.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the specific issues discussed, several targets under the identified SDGs are relevant:

1. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • Target 15.5: “Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.” The article directly addresses this by highlighting the “critically endangered” status of the caracal and the “possibly extinct” status of the sand cat in Pakistan, and calls for “greater protection and targeted conservation measures” to prevent their extinction and combat habitat degradation from mining.
   • Target 15.7: “Take urgent action to end poaching and trafficking of protected species of flora and fauna…” The article points to “retaliatory killings” as a “major threat” and mentions a specific incident where “one juvenile cat [was] killed in the national park by local people.” This falls under the broader goal of ending the illegal killing of protected species.
   • Target 15.9: “By 2020, integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local planning, development processes…” The hope that sightings will “build a case for a national conservation strategy” and support the “inclusion [of the species] in national conservation strategies” is a direct call to integrate biodiversity values into national planning.
   • Target 15.a: “Mobilize and significantly increase financial resources from all sources to conserve and sustainably use biodiversity and ecosystems.” The article explicitly states that “Conservation of small wildcats is severely underfunded worldwide,” with only about 3% of funding for felines going to small cats, highlighting the need to mobilize financial resources.
2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • Target 11.4: “Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage.” Kirthar National Park is a protected area and a part of Pakistan’s natural heritage. The article explains it is “beset by sand mining activities” driven by development in Karachi, showing a failure to safeguard this heritage that needs to be strengthened.
3. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • Target 17.16: “Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology and financial resources…” The entire conservation effort described is a partnership between an NGO, its local partners, and international experts who share knowledge (“better insight into species distribution”) and technology (camera traps).

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions or implies several quantitative and qualitative indicators that can be used to measure progress:

1. Indicators for SDG 15
   • Red List Index (Indicator 15.5.1): The article explicitly uses the IUCN Red List to define the conservation status of the species, noting the caracal is “critically endangered” in Pakistan and the sand cat is “possibly extinct.” Changes in this status would be a key indicator of progress.
   • Population and Distribution Data: The article provides a population estimate for the caracal (“approximately 100 individuals”) and emphasizes that sightings help in “solidifying the mapping of its current range.” Collecting more comprehensive data on population size and distribution is an implied indicator of research progress.
   • Incidents of Human-Wildlife Conflict: The mention of “retaliatory killings” and the specific death of a juvenile cat implies that the number of such incidents is a measurable indicator of the threat level and the success of awareness programs.
   • Conservation Funding Levels: The statistic that “Only around 3% of global felid funding is currently directed at the more than 36 species of small cats” serves as a baseline indicator. An increase in this percentage or in absolute funding for small cat conservation in Pakistan would indicate progress.
2. Indicators for SDG 11
   • Extent of Habitat Degradation: The article identifies “sand and gravel mining” inside Kirthar National Park as a major threat. The area affected by these activities or the volume of resources extracted would be a direct indicator of the pressure on this natural heritage site.
3. Indicators for SDG 17
   • Use of Scientific and Technological Tools: The use of “camera-trap” technology is mentioned as the method for obtaining “very rare visual evidence.” The expansion of such monitoring programs is an indicator of technological partnership and capacity building.
   • Development of Conservation Strategies: The creation and implementation of a “national conservation strategy” or a “compensation scheme,” as hoped for by the conservationists, would be a key policy-level indicator of successful partnership and planning.

4. Summary of Findings

Source: news.mongabay.com