Pakistan is a country which is very rich in biodiversity as we have various kinds of biomes or life zones in our country such as freshwater, marine and coastal, freshwater wetlands and coral reef biomes to coniferous forests, temperate deciduous forests, thorn forests, grasslands and shrub lands, littoral and swamp, and Alpine and Tundra as well as deserts! Each of these biome boasts its own kind of biodiversity of both plants and animals. This is another reason why Pakistan is proudly home to many species of plants and animals which are found in Pakistan only or some other very limited geographic locations, that is, they are native or endemic species of Pakistan.
Endemic or native species are those which are specific to a certain regions and are not found anywhere else in the world. Believe it or not there are many species of plants and animals which are endemic or native to Pakistan.
Unfortunately, most of these species are vulnerable or endangered and are at an eventual risk of going extinct if proper measures are not taken to protect and conserve them. Endemic species need special attention due to the fact that their numbers are usually small and they usually have very specific requirements for survival. These species also face a threat from not only habitat destruction, pollution and over-hunting, but also from poaching because their uniqueness also makes them a valuable commodity for illegal animal and animal parts trade. So efforts should be made on an individual, regional and national level to protect and conserve these endemic species because they are our common resource and heritage.
Also check out:
12 Vulnerable and Endangered Animal Species of Pakistan
Endangered and Critically Endangered Animals of Pakistan
Endangered and Critically Endangered Bird Species of Pakistan
Endemic or Native Animals and Plants of Pakistan List
It is interesting to note that Pakistan has endemic species in all classes of vertebrates: mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish; as well in the plant kingdom. This is why we decided to write a series of articles on the endemic species of Pakistan. The list has been given below. For further details, click the links of individual articles. Happy reading and learning!
Endemic or Native Mammal Species of Pakistan
Endemic or Native Bird Species of Pakistan
Endemic or Native Reptile Species of Pakistan
Endemic or Native Amphibian Species of Pakistan
Endemic or Native Fish Species of Pakistan
Endemic or Native Plant Species of Pakistan
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