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Few people
think of Pakistan when thinking of biodiversity. The reason for
this is because most people imagine Pakistan to be one large
desert. Although large areas in Pakistan are arid- to semi-arid,
there are coniferous rainforests in the Lesser Himalaya, and
Alpine tundra in the Greater Himalya. The Karakoram forms an
alpine desert home to xerophytic plants and several species of
birds and mammals.
When traveling through the Lesser Himalaya one can expect to see
groups of Rhesus Monkeys and in the evenings Flying squirrels
are a common sight. Clouded leopards are more elusive. The
Karakoram and Himalaya are home to Brown bears, Snow Leopards,
Marmots, Markhor Sheep, Ibex, Ermines and Pikas.
There are hundreds of alpine plant species and they bloom from
Late July-August. Given below are just a few pictures I have
taken over the years.
Rhesus Macaques (Maccaca mulatta) at ~9000 feet in the Lesser
Himalaya at Changla Galli
5
foot Monitor lizard near Attock
Marmot near Thalle La
Himalayan Chough. These remarkable birds start at around 11,000
feet and have been observed at 23,000 feet on Gasherbrum II.
Pedicularis bicornuta at 13,000 feet on the Deosai Plateau
Silene vulgaris at
14,000 feet near Thalle La
Rhodiola tibetica at 13,000 feet on the Deosai Plateau
Pedicularis cheilanthifolia at 13,000 feet on the Deosai
Plateau a
Machaeranthera sp at 13,000 feet on the Deosai Plateau
at 13,
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