# Deh Akro-II Desert Wetland Complex

Deh Akro-II Desert Wetland Complex locally referred to as Deh Akro, is one of the ten Ramsar sites located in Sindh province of Pakistan. Designated under the Ramsar convention in 2002, the internationally significant site has mainly an inland wetland ecosystem and covers an area of around 20,500 hectares (51,000 acres).

## Location

The complex lies in central Sindh in Shaheed Benazirabad District, in proximity to the regions of Naushahra Feroz District at a distance of approximately 330 kilometres (210 mi) in the northeast of the provincial capital, Karachi. In the northeast of the complex, borders the Nara desert which is a subdivision of the larger Thar Desert.

## Status

The site was officially declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1988. Moreover, proper measures were undertaken by WWF-Pakistan to make the wetland reach criteria; 1 – 6 and 8 for Ramsar designation in 2002. Later in 2004, the site was listed in Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas by BirdLife International under criteria; A1 and A4iii.

## Geography

Deh Akro-II Complex preserves a diverse collection of wildlife due to the alteration of geographic features within the confines of the complex. It comprises marshy areas, agricultural lands, sandy deserts, and wetlands, which collectively raise it a site holding the four varying habitats. In between the desert land with an average of 5 to 10-metre sand, there are plain interdunal valleys transversing with freshwater lakes in them. Out of a total of thirty-six lakes which form the wetland of the complex, five are freshwater lakes while the remaining lakes are mostly composed of brack water due to considerable salts concentrations. All are waterbodies from the local irrigations specially the Nara Canal of the Indus River of the region, and are also fed by rainwater. Due to water scarcity and climate change, the wetland complex which initially contained 45 lakes as of 1988, reduced to 36 lakes in 2003. Later in 2021, the number reportedly dropped to 32. There are also human settlements in the complex which include Kunjwaro, Nathantal, Lalantar, Drigadaro, Pokhal-wari, Husayfakir, and some others.

## Biodiversity

In Deh Akro-II Complex, the commonly inhabiting animals are crocodiles, otters, waterfowls, and fishes. A community of some of the rare and endangered species of the world survive here. Notable rare species inhabiting the sanctuary include; oriental darter (Anhinga melanogaster), garganey (Anas Querquedula), desert wildcat (Felis lybica), and black ibis (Pseudibis papillosa). The endangered animal species include Indian hog deer (Axis porcinus), fudge duck (Aythya nyroca), and mugger crocodile (Crocodylus palustris).
With over 20,000 waterbirds, the wildlife sanctuary supports 101 avian species. It hosts a total of 14 fishes, 16 reptilian, and 18 mammalian species which are listed as follows:

### Fishes

| Common name | Scientific name |
| Rohu | Labeo rohita |
| Dambru | Labeo nigripinnis |
| Orangefin Labeo | Labeo calbasu |
| Makhni | Ambassis nam |
| Giant Murrel | Channa marulius |
| Dayya | Tilapia mossombica |
| Catla | Labeo catla |
| Singhara | Mystus secnghala |
| Pla khao | Wallago attu |
| Gandan | Notopterus notopterus |
| Butter catfish | Ompok bimaculatus |
| Tank goby | Glossogobius giuris |
| Morakha | Cirrhinus mrigala |
| Palli | Gaduria chopra |

### Reptiles

| Common name | Scientific name |
| Brahminy Blind Snake | Typhlops braminus |
| Indian sand boa | Eryx johni |
| Saw scaled | Viper Echis carinatus |
| Agama | Trapelus agilis |
| Afghan ground agama | Trapelus megalonyx |
| Indian spiny-tailed lizard | Saara hardwicki |
| Indian fringe-fingered lizard | Acanthodactylus contoris |
| Persian long-tailed desert lizard | Mesalina watsonana |
| Sind gecko | Crossobamon orientalis |
| Dwarf Gecko | Tropicolotes helenae |
| Indian sand-swimmer | Ophiomorus tridactylus |
| Indian monitor | Varanus bengalensis |
| Desert monitor | Varanus griseus |
| Brown-roofed turtle | Pangshura smithii |
| Spotted pond turtle | Geoclemys hamiltoni |
| Mugger crocodile | Crocodylus palustris |

### Mammals

| Common name | Scientific name |
| Hedgehog | Hemiechinus auratus |
| Yellow throated Shrew | Suncus stoliczkanus |
| White-footed Fox | Vulpes vulpes pusilla |
| Golden Jackal | Canis aureus |
| Smooth-coated otter | Lutra perspicillata |
| Small Indian Mongoose | Urva auropunctatus |
| Desert wildcat | Felis lybica |
| Jungle cat | Felis chaus |
| Eurasian wild pig | Sus scrofa |
| Indian hog deer | Axis porcinus |
| Indian hare | Lepus nigrocollis |
| Indian Crested Porcupine | Hystrix indica |
| Five-striped palm squirrel | Funambulus pennanti |
| House Mouse | Mus musculus |
| Short-tailed Bandicoot Rat | Nesokia indica |
| Balochistan gerbil | Gerbillus nanus |
| Indian gerbil | Tatera indica |
| Indian Desert Jird | Meriones hurrianae |

### Marsh crocodiles

The national reptile of Pakistan, Crocodylus palustris, commonly called as the "marsh crocodile", has been a vital subject among species of crocodiles in the Indian subcontinent. In Deh Akro-II, the crocodile inhabits the swamps, marshlands, and lakes. Throughout the last three decades, this IUCN's redlisted species faced reduction in its population due to poaching, prolonged water shortage and habitat destruction in the Deh Akro-II. As of 2021, the international conservationists pointed out a 90 percent decline in the count of crocodiles during the period.