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The present book deals with the Indian state of Punjab, which, sprawling with an area of 50,362 square kilometres, shares 1.53% of India's total geographical area. The state also encompasses thirteen wildlife sanctuaries, four conservation reserves, and three community reserves, covering about 381.33 sq. km area along with three Ramsar Wetland sites.
The scientific reporting of animals in undivided Punjab Province in British India started way back in 1888 with the first recording of mammals. Since then several surveys were conducted by the Zoological Survey of India in Punjab and periodically being published. Further, in order to make the holistic approach on the faunal communities of Punjab, ZSI handled dedicated program for Punjab State during 2010-2014 by the Northern Regional Centre, Dehradun.
The study revealed 3,356 faunal species belonging to 1,957 genera under 438 families in 43 major faunal groups from the state of Punjab, which is nearly 3.30% of the total Indian faunal diversity. A total of 2,634 species of invertebrates belonging to 1,586 genera and 313 families are recorded, of which, 66 species have been recorded for the first time from the state, including three new records from India. Whereas, the vertebrate diversity is represented by 722 species belonging to 371 genera and 125 families. Of these, 9 species (7 species of Pisces and 2 species of Amphibia) constitute new records for Punjab.
It is hoped that the data provided in this book will serve as baseline information on the fauna of Punjab benefitting not only researchers, planners and policymakers, but also will be of immense support to the State forest departments, for conservation and management plans.
