by Jeemon Jacob
Sat Sep 16, 4:11 PM ET



MUNNAR, India (AFP) - A rare species of mountain sheep could face extinction if it is not given a safe haven from the conflicts tearing apart its natural habitat in central and south Asia, conservationists say.


Experts meeting this week in India's southern Kerala state have proposed the creation of a "peace park" for the Marco Polo sheep native to the Pamir mountains, located where Afghanistan, China, Pakistan and Tajikistan meet.

"War kills not only people but destroys animals and habitat. Human and political conflicts destabilize wildlife resources," US zoologist George B. Schaller told AFP at the close of the conference on hooved mammals.

"The conflict in the area will wipe out the Marco Polo sheep."

The sheep -- which number only 6,000, according to Schaller -- are trapped in a chaotic zone that includes Pakistan's lawless tribal areas on the border with Afghanistan, where Islamic militants are active.

"A trans-border peace park where China, Pakistan and Afghanistan meet will certainly help the conservation of the Marco Polo sheep," said Schaller, who has been studying the sheep for more than 20 years.

The sheep, which was first described to Europeans in the 13th century by the Italian explorer for which the animal is now named, has long curving ridged horns that can grow several feet.

The head and horns are prized by hunters, with some paying up to 25,000 dollars to snare such trophies.

The 71-year-old Schaller, who has spent almost 50 years exploring Asia, Africa and South America, began working on the idea for a park in the Pamir Mountains in 2002, when he visited Tajikistan for a survey.

According to the expert, research by Tajik biologists showed that there were less than two of the sheep per square kilometer, and in some areas, there were none at all.

Worse, the number of sheep continues to dwindle due to unregulated hunting.

When Schaller visited China in November 2005 to conduct a field study with Aili Kang, a biologist with the US-based Wildlife Conservation Society, he found the animal appeared to be better protected there.

In concert with the Wildlife Conservation Society, Schaller is now trying to win backing for a protected area of about 50,000 square kilometers (20,000 square miles) straddling the four borders.

The park would include existing wildlife protection areas, such as the Central Karakoram National Park in northern Pakistan and the Taxkongau Nature Reserve in southwestern China, the society's website says.

"Wild animals do not bear the tag of nationalities. They cross borders for their own reasons," Schaller said.

An ecologist with the Swiss-based International Union for the Conservation of Nature, which organized the conference, said he supported the idea of "peace parks" for animals in conflict zones.

"We will start campaigns and seek support of the conservationists, local communities and policy makers to make this a reality," said Marco Festa-Bianchet, who also works for the protection of wild sheep and goats.

Some 100 participants from 15 countries participated in the conference held in the Nilgiri hill resort of Munnar near the Eravikulam National Park, set up for the protection of a hooved mammal known as the Nilgiri Tahr.

According to the New Delhi-based Wild Life Trust of India, the country is home to 18 species of hooved mammals, or mountain ungulates.