|
|
|
Exploring Haft Talar
Despite the name given to the island by locals, Haft Talar (meaning ‘seven rocks’), also known as Astola, appears to form a single block roughly three miles in length and one mile in width with an estimated height of two hundred feet at its highest point.
An isolated rocky area has broken away from the main block towards the south end. Given that the island remains unsheltered from the sea, it is subject to strong wave attacks during the southwest monsoons, when wave heights exceed 3.5 metres. Thus, the coastline suffers from severe erosion and most of the littoral material is lost to the sea.
A small solar operated beacon has been constructed on the top of one of the island’s cliffs for the safety of passing vessels.
General location
Astolla is situated in the northern part of the Arabian Sea, approximately 25km off the mainland coast, 40km east-southeast of Pasni harbour, in Balochistan. It comes under Pasni subdivision of Gwadar district.
There are some rare and vulnerable species of animals such as the endangered green turtles (chelonia mydas) and possibly the hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbracata).
The site is of special value for maintaining the genetic and ecological diversity of the area. There is considerable convergence of plant and animal species that inhabit the island and surrounding waters.
The area is quite important because it is the nesting ground of the turtles mentioned above as well as endemic animal species such as the Echis carinatus astoli, and vipers.
Ecological features
The natural vegetation is composed of zeromorphic type, able to survive the arid climate. It does not only suffer from extreme drought but also from wind carrying saline particles. Salt sprays coupled with sand particles clog the respiratory mechanism of plants, affecting growth.
Prosopis juliflora is the most widespread species in the island. Indigofera oblongifolia and hycium depressum are also prevalent forming large bushes. Other types of vegetation include Sueda fruticosa and Aerua persica.
Noteworthy fauna
The island is reported to support a large number of breeding seabirds including Larus hemprichii and several species of terns. Avifauna includes Ardeola cinerea, Egretta gularis, Pluvialis squatarola, Numenius arquata, Limosa limosa, Calidris minutus, Larus argentatus, Larus genei, Cursorius coromandelius, Galerida cristata, Oenanthe deserti and Prinia spp.
Sightings of cetaceans such as dolphins and to a lesser extent, whales have also been reported. In fact, in December 1994, a large whale (possibly sperm whale) carcass washed up on the shores of Ganz, Balochistan. Recent evidence indicates that significant, previously undocumented populations of up to twenty species of whale and dolphin occur within the Pakistani Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Studies in Oman, combined with newly available data on illegal Russian and Japanese whaling off Pakistan in the 1960s, verbal reports of sightings by fishermen, and records of beach-cast specimens suggest that large numbers of many species of whales and dolphins spend part of the year in Pakistani waters. It can be surmised that these cetaceans, which are primarily dependent on the highly productive Southern Arabian upwelling system, use parts of the Pakistani EEZ for both calving and feeding.
Evidence suggests that since the 1980s, when the International Whaling Commission set up the Indian Ocean sanctuary to protect the area from whaling, relatively unexpected cetacean populations have flourished in north-east Indian Ocean. Yet there have been no systematic studies of the seasonal abundance and distribution of cetaceans in Pakistani waters.
The whole island is temporarily used as a base for fishermen who are frequent visitors between September and May to catch fish in general and lobsters and oysters in particular. Between June and August, the island generally remains free from human interference owing to rough seas.
Recreation and tourism
There are currently no recreational and tourist activities available on the island. However, as the largest island of Pakistan, Astolla has considerable potential for being developed into an eco-tourism site where both local and foreign nature enthusiasts can visit and observe the rich flora and fauna as well as witness the flourishing marine life in through scuba diving, snorkelling and glass-bottomed boats.
The communities living on the mainland would benefit by providing services to eco-tourists as an alternative income generating venture. Caution should, however, be exercised in ensuring that any tourist activity is regulated and does not degrade the ecological character of the site.
The writer
|
|
|
|
