District Poonch

Wild Life in Poonch

Thanks to the geographical and climatic conditions, Poonch District is rich in wild life. Forests in the district cover an area about  83.914  acres. The rare mammals include the markhor, musk deer, brown bear, leopard, ghoral and a number  of other wild mammals. Some of the birds which habitate different parts of the district include the pheasant, black  partridge, chakurs, snow cock kohlas.

Poonch traditionally had a rich wild  life. It had a well established Wild Life and Games Department before Independence with 41 hunting places (Shikargahs) . After 1947 the hunting places (Shikargahs) in the district Poonch came under heavy biotic pressure due to urbanization and deforestation causing disturbance to the natural eco system.