Riverine refuge on the Chenab where waterfowl, waders, and woodland birds meet
Bajwat Wildlife Sanctuary
Bajwat Wildlife Sanctuary is a riverine protected area in northeastern Pakistan, situated in Sialkot District along the Chenab River and two of its tributaries near the international border with India. Spanning roughly 5,400 hectares, the sanctuary preserves a mosaic of natural floodplain habitats, from wet marshlands and reed beds to open water and drier riverine woodland. Its protected mosaic supports herds of hog deer and nilgai, and provides important seasonal habitat for a rich bird community that includes ducks, herons, waders, raptors, kingfishers, and warblers.
The sanctuary is known regionally as a stopover and wintering area for waterfowl, with scientists recording around 110 bird species on the site. Wagtails of the family Motacillidae are among the most frequently encountered groups, joined by abundant resident species such as little egrets, red-wattled lapwings, and house crows. The immigration of Himalayan and Central Asian waterbirds in colder months adds to the seasonal character of the reserve.
As one of the few formally protected sites in the heavily populated Sialkot region, Bajwat plays a regional role in safeguarding riparian habitat. Within Pakistan's protected-area framework, it stands as a small but ecologically distinctive example of natural riverine habitat, where the dynamics of the Chenab floods and the surrounding land use create a constantly shifting environment.