Mehrano: Sindh’s living treasure

By Dr Zawwar Hussain

If Sindh is seen only through the Indus, the Thar Desert, Mohenjo Daro, Kot Diji Fort, the poetry of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, Ajrak and the Sindhi Topi, much of the province’s character remains unseen. Sindh is not merely a repository of history and culture. It is a landscape in which rivers, deserts, forests, wetlands, agricultural plains, ancient settlements and wildlife exist in a remarkable geographical relationship. The Mehrano Wildlife Sanctuary in Khairpur Mirs is one of the clearest examples of this forgotten richness. Near Kot Diji, Mehrano brings together nature, history and generations of conservation.

Historical accounts trace its protected status to around 1790, during the rule of Mir Sohrab Khan Talpur, when the area was associated with a private hunting reserve. Over generations, the Talpur family continued to protect its wildlife. What survives today is therefore not simply a piece of woodland, but a longstanding example of private stewardship of nature. Mehrano is reported to cover between roughly 640 and 700 acres. Its importance, however, cannot be measured by acreage alone.

Within a relatively compact area are forests, grasslands, agricultural land, water bodies and landscapes influenced by the nearby desert. Such ecological variety gives the sanctuary significance far beyond its physical size. It provides a refuge for wildlife and an unusually accessible field laboratory for researchers studying geography, zoology, botany, environmental sciences and wildlife management. Its blackbuck population is perhaps its most striking attraction. There is something extraordinary about seeing these animals moving freely across open grassland, their curved horns rising above the vegetation as they run with remarkable speed.

The blackbuck is an important species of the subcontinent’s grassland ecosystems, and its continued presence at Mehrano demonstrates what sustained protection can achieve in a region where hunting, habitat destruction and human expansion have placed wildlife under increasing pressure. Mehrano is also home to species including chinkara, hog deer and wild boar. Some accounts have placed the number of larger animals in the sanctuary at around 4,000, although such estimates should be treated with caution because wildlife populations fluctuate with seasons, habitat conditions and survey methods.

What matters more than any single figure is the evidence that a protected landscape can support considerable biodiversity when habitat, water, food and security are available. The sanctuary’s significance extends beyond mammals. Its lake and wetland environment provide habitat for resident and migratory birds. For a province whose wetlands have faced growing environmental pressure, such habitats are particularly valuable. With systematic bird surveys and long-term monitoring, Mehrano could become an important destination for birdwatchers, wildlife photographers and researchers. It could also introduce a wider audience to the often overlooked avian diversity of Sindh.

A comprehensive digital ecological map of Mehrano, for example, could identify wildlife habitats, water bodies, vegetation density, sensitive ecological zones and designated visitor routes. Camera traps could document nocturnal species and help establish more reliable population data. Remote sensing could monitor changes in vegetation and water availability. Such measures would not merely produce academic research; they would give managers the evidence required to make better decisions. There is also a compelling tourism argument. Modern tourism is increasingly about experience rather than passive sightseeing.

A visitor to Khairpur could see blackbuck at Mehrano, explore Kot Diji Fort, visit Talpur heritage sites, experience the region’s date-palm plantations, taste local food and encounter the cultural traditions of Sindh. The combination would be far more attractive than treating each destination as an isolated attraction. Khairpur is already associated with its dates and Talpur heritage. Mehrano can add wildlife to that identity. Together, these assets could form the basis of a distinctive tourism circuit linking nature, archaeology, history, agriculture and culture. Sindh’s hospitality, Ajrak, Sindhi Topi, Sufi traditions, local cuisine and music could become part of the experience rather than decorative additions to it.

But tourism must not be allowed to destroy what makes Mehrano valuable. The lesson from many poorly managed tourist destinations is that development without ecological planning eventually consumes the very attraction it was meant to promote. Visitor numbers should therefore be determined according to the sanctuary’s carrying capacity. Plastic waste, excessive noise and feeding of animals should be prohibited. Safari routes should be carefully designated and sensitive habitats kept away from unnecessary human disturbance. Tourism revenue should also contribute directly to conservation.

A portion should be invested in habitat restoration, wildlife monitoring, environmental education and the maintenance of the sanctuary. Local communities should have a meaningful stake in the process. Young people from surrounding areas could be trained as nature guides, rangers, drivers, photographers and hospitality workers. Conservation becomes far more sustainable when communities can see that protecting wildlife creates opportunities rather than restrictions. Mehrano offers an important lesson at a time when Sindh is confronting climate change, water scarcity, deforestation, pollution, habitat degradation and biodiversity loss.

(The writer is a PhD scholar with a strong research and analytical background and can be reached at news@metro-Morning.com)

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