Margalla National Park, Pakistan Photograph by WWF/ Mauri Rautkari   Indian subcontinent--Pakistan, Afghanistan Deserts and Xeric Shrublands   111,500 square miles (288,700 square kilometers) -- about the size of Arizona Critical/Endangered

· Diversity in the Dust
· Special Features
· Did You Know?
· Wild Side
· Cause for Concern
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Diversity in the Dust

In this dry, desert landscape, there are times you’d be smart to cover your eyes. During summer days, northerly hot winds called loo blow across the Baluchistan Plateau, causing raging dust storms. When the wind calms down, however, an incredibly rich ecoregion is revealed.

Special Features

A maze of mountain ranges and hills lies within and around this ecoregion. Short rivers that originate in the hills of the plateau drain into shallow lakes or get absorbed into the desert sand. Arid and semiarid steppe vegetation dominates--including open woodlands of pistachio, almond, barberry, honeysuckle, sage, and juniper. In fact, the juniper forest in the north-central portion of Baluchistan is considered to be the most extensive tract remaining in the world. Grasses and shrubs can be found throughout the ecoregion.

	Caracal is derived from the Turkish word "karakulak," which means "black-ear." This beautiful, small wild cat has distinctive, long pointed ears that are topped with tufts of black hair.

Wild Side

Wild cats are among the ecoregion’s top predators. Common leopards and caracals roam the hills while jungle cats and leopard cats inhabit the nothern plains. Antelopes such as black buck or Indian gazelles are found in the western part of the ecoregion. The hills and mountains support the distinctive and highly threatened Baluchistan black bear and straight-horned markhor, among other species. Birds are numerous. More than 300 species can be found here, including falcons, Egyptian vultures, greater spotted eagles, pheasants, doves, swallows, ducks, and kingfishers. Crawling along the ground are several species of reptiles and amphibians, such as leopard geckos, Indian cobras, and endangered marsh crocodiles, as well as ant frogs and tiger frogs.

Cause for Concern

Deforestation for fuel, building materials, and food is the main threat to this ecoregion's biodiversity. Other problems include irrigation and overgrazing, which leads to soil erosion and desertification. Although dam construction has created some habitat for migratory birds, it has negatively affected fish populations and habitat for the Indus River dolphin.

For more information on this ecoregion, go to the World Wildlife Fund Scientific Report.