The primary purpose of setting up of this park
was to provide protection to the endangered Marco polo sheep, which is
only found in this area in Pakistan. According to the Mir of Hunza, the
population was around 400 but had dropped to below 180 by the time of the
completion of the Karakoram Highway. A herd of almost 75 Marco Polo sheep
was recorded in the spring of 1984 and park staff saw at least 50 crossing
the Pass in May 1989. The park is also famous for its Snow Leopards. Some
reports say that it might contain the highest density of these beautiful
cats in the total Himalayan ecosystem which is the natural habitat of these
cats. Over 2,000 Siberian ibex, widely distributed and abundant in the
park but absent from neighbouring China are also present here.
Wildlife:
Mammals in the park may include Snow leopard, Himalayan Ibex, Brown bear, Tibetan red fox, Tibetan wolf, Blue Sheep ( In Shimshal area), Marcopolo Sheep, Tibetan wild ass(Kiang), Ermine, Alpine weasle, Stone Martin, Golden Marmot, Lynx(Unconfirmed reports), Large-eared Pika, Dhole(Unconfirmed reports), Cape hare, Common field mouse, Royle's mountain vole, Lesser shrew and Migratory hamster.
Common birds in the park are; Lammegier vulture, Golden eagle, Himalayan griffon vulture, Eurasian black vulture, Marsh harrier, Eurasian sparrow hawk, Eurasian kestrel, Lesser kestrel, Saker falcon, Peregrine falcon, Himalayan Snow cock, Snow partridge, Chukar, Grey heron, Common sandpiper, Hill pigeon, Snow pigeon, Northern eagle owl, Eurasian cuckoo, Common swallow, Magpie, Alpine cough and Raven.