# Chinji National Park

Chinji National Park (shortened as Chinji), established in 1987, is a protected area of IUCN category II (national park) located on Sargodha road Near Chinji Town in District Talagang Punjab, Pakistan. It covers a total area of 6,095 hectares (15,061 acres). Chinji National Park is located close to Salt Range, about 130 km from Islamabad in the south.

## Landscape

The area has an elevation imperial of 2,231 feet (680 m). Deeply eroded land of Chinji consists of sandstone to igneous rocks, combined with small deposits of rock salt from the Salt Range. Deep torrential streams and ravines slope into the Soan River, which passes through the area.

## Climate

Average annual rainfall in the area is 537 mm, out of which 308 mm is in the monsoon season from July to September. Maximum temperature is 27 °C in June and minimum is 2.2 °C in January. Frost is common in winter season. Relative humidity can reach up to 80% in monsoon.

## Wildlife

The Chinji National Park exhibits the biome of deserts and xeric shrublands and falls in the ecoregion of 'Baluchistan xeric woodlands' (PA1307). The area is characterized to have sub-tropical vegetation with many plant species of importance. A few of the mammals found here include the Urial, Golden jackal, Bengal fox, Indian wolf and Indian pangolin. A few game birds include Grey francolin and Common wood pigeon

## Fauna and flora

List of fauna found in the national park.

### Mammals

| # | Name | Scientific name |
| 1 | Brandt's hedgehog | Paraechinus hypomelas |
| 2 | Asian house shrew | Suncus murinus |
| 3 | Indian bush rat | Golunda ellioti |
| 4 | Northern palm squirrel | Funambulus pennantii |
| 5 | Yellow-throated marten | Martes flavigula |
| 6 | Indian pangolin | Manis crassicaudata |
| 7 | Bengal fox | Vulpes bengalensis |
| 8 | Red fox | Vulpes vulpes |
| 9 | Indian wolf | Canis lupus pallipes |
| 10 | Small Indian civet | Small Indian civet |
| 11 | Indian long-eared hedgehog | Hemiechinus collaris |
| 12 | Indian crested porcupine | Hystrix indica |
| 13 | Black rat | Rattus rattus |
| 14 | House mouse | Mus musculus |
| 15 | Indian grey mongoose | Urva edwardsii |
| 16 | Small Indian mongoose | Urva auropunctata |
| 17 | Indian jackal | Canis aureus indicus |
| 18 | Jungle cat | Felis chaus |
| 19 | Asiatic wildcat | Felis lybica ornata |
| 20 | Punjab urial | Ovis vignei punjabiensis |

### Reptiles

| # | Name | Scientific name |
| 1 | Bengal monitor | Varanus bengalensis |
| 2 | Yellow-belly gecko | Hemidactylus flaviviridis |
| 3 | Oriental garden lizard | Calotes versicolor |

### Birds

| # | Name | Scientific name |
| 1 | Chukar partridge | Alectoris chukar |
| 2 | See-see partridge | Ammoperdix griseogularis |
| 3 | Grey francolin | Ortygornis pondicerianus |
| 4 | Common quail | Coturnix coturnix |
| 5 | Rock dove | Columba livia |
| 6 | Black-winged stilt | Himantopus himantopus |
| 7 | Laughing dove | Spilopelia senegalensis |
| 8 | Red-wattled lapwing | Vanellus indicus |
| 9 | Greater coucal | Centropus sinensis |
| 10 | White-throated kingfisher | Halcyon smyrnensis |
| 11 | Red-vented bulbul | Pycnonotus cafer |
| 12 | Black-winged kite | Elanus caeruleus |
| 13 | Black kite | Milvus migrans |
| 14 | Eurasian teal | Anas crecca |
| 15 | Common pochard | Aythya ferina |