M.PHIL.

THESIS

WILD LIFE
AND
NATURE CONSERVATION

Course : M.Phil. (Environmental

Science)
Name : Uttam Panda. M.Sc. (Eco &
Evn)
Roll No : M.Phil/247/ES/2008J

Thesis Submitted to
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THE GLOBAL OPEN

UNIVERSITY
NAGALAND
Table of Contents
Page No

CHAPTER NO. 1 Introduction

3
1.1 Introduction.
1.2 Importance of Wildlife to man.
1.3 Methods of Wildlife Conservation.

CHAPTER NO. 2 Depletion of wildlife 7

2.1 Effects of Wildlife Depletion.
2.2 Reasons for Wildlife Conservation.

CHAPTER NO. 3 Wildlife Conservation 11

3.1 Wildlife Conservation in India.
3.2 Wildlife Management.
3.3 Wildlife Reserves in India.
3.4 Categories of Indian Wildlife.

CHAPTER NO. 4 Endangered Species in India 32

4.1 Endangered Species.
4.2 Protected Wildlife of India.
4.3 Biosphere Reserve Programmed.

CHAPTER NO. 5 Some Indian Sanctuaries

40
& National Parks
5.1 Indian Sanctuaries and National Park
5.2 Location of National Parks and Sanctuaries

CHAPTER NO. 6 Ecological Measures 77

6.1 Ecological Sub regions of India on the basis of
Wildlife.
6.2 Loss of Biodiversity.
6.3 Protection of Small animals.
6.4 Guidelines for Tourists to check inflow.
CHAPTER NO. 7 Wildlife Research in India
84
7.1 Wildlife research in India.
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7.2 Wildlife Education and Training.

CHAPTER – 1

Introduction

Introduction.

Importance of Wildlife to man.

Methods of Wildlife Conservation.

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INTRODUCTION
A wild animal is one that lives entirely without the help and care of man . It dose

not depend on man either for food , shelter or protection . when we talk about

wild animals,we mean wild mammals, for example bears, monkeys, elephants,

tiger, lion etc . According to ecologists, both naturally occurring animals (fauna)

as well as plants (flora) are included in wildlife . some wild animals are so

characteristic that they become symbols of their home countries . Thus tiger and

Peacock are associated with India , Kangaroo with Australia, White Beer with

Russia, kiwi with Newzeland , Springbok with south Africa and Giant panda with

china .

India is unique in havaing immense natural beauty in its different biomes and

in possessing a rich and diverse wildlife funna . India wild life is incomparable in

its variety . for example , the tiger , the lion and the leopard roam about in the

same country . Elephants and the one horned rhinoceros are found here in

abundance. India has more types of the graceful deer and cats than any other

country in the world . In fact , India includes more than 120 families of terrestrial

vertebrates . It has been established that there are more than 400 species of

mammals, 1200 species of birds , more than 350 species of reptiles and more

than 29,70,000 species of insects in India . The animals like black buck , Nilgiri

tahr, pigmy hog , golden langur , lion – tailed macaque etc . are unique wild

animals of India . India is gifted whit a wide variety of deers such as musk deer

(Kastura), barking deer , spotted deer (cheetal), hog deer , mouse deer , swamp
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deer (barasingha) , and dancing deer (sambhar).The typical wild indian bird

include peafowl ,jungle fowl, quail, great Indian reptiles include crocodiles ,

lizards, gharials and more than 125 varieties of snakes.

Many wild animals become extinct due to various human and natural

activities . For example, over the past 2000 years about 106 spacies of animals

and about 140 species of birds have become extinct because of climatic and

geographic changes and also by over hunting by man for food , fur and many

other reasons . According to ecologists more than 600 species of animals and

birds are expected to be extinct, if not protected by wildlife managemen

IMPORTANCE OF WILDLIFE TO MAN

Wild animals as well as plants have evolved like man over millions of year s.

Together they from the complex web of life on the planet Earth . wildlife has a

great importance to man . For example:-

a) Culturel Importance:- knowledge of animals is a part of our culture .

wildelife play s an important as well as vital role in unraveling many mysteries of

nature , especially forests and its environment.

b) Economic Importentance: - There are four important ways in which

wildlife can be utilized for economic gains. These are:-

i) Food - Indian tribal population mainly makes use of game animals and

birds and also fishes as the main source of their protein food.
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ii) Shooting and Fishing - These are useful source of income to the

people because of the money realized from the sale of shooter licenses and an

import of sporting arms.

iii) Collection of Animals - Live or dead for zoological gardens and

museums of the world, the wild animals is a profitable business. Industries

supported by animals products lick skin, horn, fur, hide etc are valuable

economic assets.

iv) Wildlife Sanctuary Tourism - It can become a major source of

foreign exchange. Internal tourism can also become an equally strong

factor for improving economic activities in various states.

v) Maintenance of Nature’s Balance - Wildlife is the soul of man and it

renders him a healthy environment. This is due to his valued activities

as they maintain nature’s balance very effectively and that too at no

cost. For example, the predatory animals control over population of

species on which they live. If such species are allowed to grow

unchecked, they are expected to affect the interest of man adversely.

Similarly, when a species is wiped out, it can never be created and

with its extinction the nature’s balance would be disturbed. The

consequences of this are felt by man and animals alike.

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METHODS OF WILDLIFE CONSERVATION
This depends on the source of danger to the threatened species. In

many cases, wildlife can be helped by ensuring that their environment is

favorable with regards to availability of food , water and shelter . This method is

called Habitat Management . It involves such action as soil conservation, good

forestry practices and wildlife management

Several species have been threatened with extinction due to

destruction of habitat by human activities like deforestation for farming, pollution

of air , water ,land plants and animals etc . people must set aside separate areas

like sanctuaries, wildlife reserves, parks etc . In which wildlife can survive.

Hunting is another major cause for the dwindle in the wildlife and this can be

prevented by enforcement of strict laws that forbid or regulate such killings.

Excessive increase in the number of one species in a given area

threatens not only its own endurance but also that of the other species by

consuming major portion of the available food. Such numbers must be reduced

by controlled hunting or by restoring its natural enemies where they have

become scarce.

Sometimes species find its extremely difficult to survive in their own once

favorable environment. Such species can be protected by breeding in captivity

and releasing in a protected area that satisfies the conditions favorable for

survival.
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A species threatened with disease can be protected by sanitation

measures in a habitat.

The success of wildlife conservation depends on the knowledge of the

ECOLOGE of the species which involves an understanding of the way of life of

the species and its relationship with its biotic and biotic environment.
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CHAPTER – 2

Depletion of wildlife

Effects of Wildlife Depletion.

Reasons for Wildlife Conservation

DEPLETION OF WILDLIFE
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The various important reasons for the depletion of wildlife are:-

1. Absence of cover or shelter to wildlife animals. Man is disturbing the

forest vegetation, tall grasses, uneven grounds and margins of rivers

etc for his own gains. These are used as cover or shelters by wild

animals. Reduction or absence of cover or shelter is an important

factor which causes wildlife depletion.

2. Deforestation for cultivation , construction of dams, power stations,

highways, railways, opencast coal , iron and limestone mines and

similar projects, and urbanization reduce area for free movement of

wild animals which decreases or even retards reproductive

capabilities of weak animals like deer, tiger ,bison, rhino, etc . For

building new cities and towns, for building roads and railways in order

to improve our transport system, for building dams for irrigation and

other purposes and for use as cultivated lands etc , man is cutting

down forests. This reduces freedom of movement of wild animals to a

very large extent. Animals like tiger, deer rhinoceros etc., are not able

to maintain their population when confined to relatively small areas.

This is one of the reasons as to why the wild animals in the zoos

rarely reproduce. The cutting down of forest also disturbs the balance

of nature and it results in the creation of deserts and floods, thereby

causing total of threatened extinction of many wild animals.

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3. The wild animals are deprived of their most palatable food by the

destruction of wild plants of forests for timber, charcoal and firewood

etc. This action affects the survival of wild animals. Food is one of the

important factor which controls distribution and number of wild

animals. Man has cut and destroyed many wild plants which form the

main food of wild animals in order to get more timber, charcoal and

fire wood. This also results in causing total or threatened extinction.

Uncontrolled grazing by domestic animals in the forests which are

meant for wild animals also helps in depriving the wild animal of the

food.

4. Noise pollution caused by different automobiles such as trucks,

buses, rails, cars, etc and by aero plans affects adversely the wild

animals.

5. Polluted river water also affects wild animals miserably. The river and

streams that run through the forests contain untreated effluents of

industries and other pollutants created by various activities of man.

This water may act as disease causing or killing agent for wildlife

resulting in their total or threatened extinction.

6. Various natural calamities such as floods, droughts, fires, epidemics

etc. Are also responsible for the depletion of wildlife.

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7. Hunting method of all kinds for food, fur, recreation, hide, musk, horn

or any other reason have caused destruction of wildlife. This is

generally known as commercial exploitation of forests and of wildlife,

particularly or rare species for commercial purposes. Thus a good

tiger skin is worth more than 5 thousand rupees. The horns of

rhinoceros carry a high fancy price. The skin of big cats also fetches

a good price. This high market value has led to unlimited slaughter of

wild animals. Poaching means illegal killing of wild animals which is

punishable by law. Poaching is also the main cause of depletion of

wildlife.

EFFECTS OF WILDLIFE DEPLETION

By killing even a single wild animal we disturb the whole ecological balance of

the nature. For example, man cuts forests and grasslands for himself, but these

destroy the natural habits of various animals and also the food of herbivores. As

a result, the herbivores die of starvation, while carnivores die because of

destruction of their shelter. As the herbivore population dwindles, the predator

species suffer. Thus in the absence of their natural prey, tiger, lions (predators)

turn to cattle and later come in open war with man. This leads to disaster.

REASONS FOR WILDLIFE CONSERVATION

Wildlife is a renewable resource like soil, water and forests, because it can be

used time and again without being destroyed and there is a great need of

conservation of these renewable resources. Wildlife needs to be protected as an

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essential part of environment. It is also important to conserve animals and birds

for their valuable gifts.

The various important reasons for wildlife conservation are –

1. The wildlife is helpful in maintaining the balance of nature, which is

most essential, because it May lead to a series of problems if it is

disturbed by any means. The destruction of carnivores or

insectivores causes the herbivores to increase, which in turn affected

the forest vegetation or crops.

2. The wildlife has also been used commercially to earn a lot of money

in one way or the other.

3. The wildlife preservation is very helpful in the study of morphology,

anatomy, physiology, ecology and biological behavior of wild animals

under their natural surroundings.

4. The best means of sports and recreation are provided by wildlife.

5. The wild life is the cultural asset of a country like India. It has deep

rooted effect on art, sculpture, literature and religion of the counter

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CHAPTER – 3

WILD LIFE CONSERVATION

Wildlife Conservation in India.

Wildlife Management.

Wildlife Reserves in India.

Categories of Indian Wildlife

WILD LIFE CONSERVATION

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Conservation of wildlife is an essential part of environment. By conservation,

we do not mean merely preservation, but conservation means the utilization of

renewable natural resources in such a manner that they are not allowed to

destroy but are used later.

Wildlife management is an important branch of conservation and consists in

assuring the maximum possible populations of games animals consistent with

other land uses in the same area and with the number that the given habitat will

support. In wildlife management, the balance of nature is manipulated in such a

manner that the desired game species are favored. Successful game

management depends upon various factors such as—

1. Understanding of ecological principles.

2. An appreciation of the conflicts between game species and

agricultural uses of land.

3. Educating the landowner and the hunter regarding the

objectives, techniques and limitations of game management.

Wildlife management is very old in India. Vedas contains hymns in praise

of animals. Sanatan Dharma have linked some animals with the specific God or

Goddess as the best way of conservation of wild life. For example, python has

been associated with God Vishnu, snake with God Shiva, swan with Goddess

saraswati, Lion with Goddess Durga rendering the animal pious and protected. In
 16
Mahabharata, rishis and munis have been indicated to conserve wildlife fauna

such as deers and birds around their ashrams. In Arth shastra , chanakya has

imposed severa penalties for killing, entrapping birds, fishes and deers etc. In

protected areas. Mughal emperors have also exhibited their deep interest in wild

life of India during medieval period. They have created hunting reserves, called

“Shikar Gaha” for the protection and preservation of game animals. It is however,

a matter of great concern that during 10th and 19th centuries, the British rulers

and some Indian rulers have caused ruthless destruction of India wildlife for

food , recreation, hide, horn, musk etc. And also the deforestations (I . e. the act

of destruction of natural abode of game animals ) for the construction of

highways, railway, dams, human dwellings and many other similar purposes. As

a result of this act more than 200 species of wild animals of India have already

been extinct and more than 250 species are at the verge of extinction, if not

protected by wild life management.

JOIN HANDS TO PROTECT MOTHER EARTH

Wildlife management includes the following fundamental approaches---

(a) Protection by Law - Laws should be passed to protect the

endangered species and severe punishment should be given to those hunters

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who indulge in their illegal and senseless killings and the poachers who hunt

them out for personal grains. India is probably the first country to intact a wild life

protection act. The wild Birds and Animals Protection Act was first enacted in

1887 and repealed in 1912. A new wild life (protection) Act was again enacted in

1972. Under this act, possession , trapping, shooting of wild animals alive or

dead, serving their meat for eating houses, their transport and export are all

controlled and watched chif wild life warden and other authorized officers. The

hunting of females and young ones has completely been prohibited under this

act, Moreover , threatened species are completely protected and other have

been provided protection according to their state of population size.

The wildlife (protection )Act, 1972 and the provisions of Convention

on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and Export and Import

Policy of India are to be enforced through the officers of the Regional Deputy

Directors of wild life Preservation locatedat Delhi, Bombay , Calcutta and Madras

with the help of state wild life wings and the customs departments .

The wildlife (protection) Amendment Bill, 1991 . has also been

enforced W . e. f.2nd October, 1991. The new provisions of the Act regarding

setting up of zoo Authority, protection of rare and endangered species of plants

and empowering of individuals to file complaints against offenders should be

enforced after the required rules have been framed under the Act.

Consumptive Use wildlife --- Avery strict compliance of laws to protect

wild life and a blanket ban on hunting in the name of saving some rare species
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from extinction may lead to rise in their population beyond the means of the

country’s depleting forests and wild life sanctuaries to provide them with food and

their natural habitats.

The new catch word among some environmentalists is sustainable

consumptive use of wild life so as to use it as an industry for continuous supply of

furs, skins, ivory , bones and even ment .

Commercial Use - The International Union for Conservation of Nature

(IUCN) to which gose the credit of triggering the decline of wild life , has taken

the stand that only the encouragement of commercial use of wild life can

guarantee the conservation of plants and animals.

“The key conservation issue today is how much of the Earth’s surface

can be allocated to conservation programmes that seek only preservation” . It

has been quoted by Dr. Gralime webb, vice Chairman of the IUCN .

Some of the important threatened and protected wild animals are white

eyed buck, black buck, swamp deer, elephant, golden cat, musk deer , tahr,

snow leopard, bustard, pink headed duck, water lizard, gharial, mash crocodile,

peafowl, python , chir pleasant and monal pheasant etc. All these wild animals,

including Albino and Melanic individuals of all species are protected by

laws.Project tiger , launched on 1. 4. 1973 is one of the better known projects

that had been successfully initiated by Indian government to achieve the

following objectives :-
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1. To ensure maintenance of viable population of the tigers in India for

Scientific, economic, aesthetic, cultural and ecological values.

2. To preserve for all times, areas of such biological importance as a

national heritage for the benefit , education and enjoyment of the

people.

In order to achieve these objectives, 18 Tiger Reserves

have been established 13 States, covering over 28600Sq. Km. Forest area.

These Tiger Reserves are located at Bandipur (Karnataka) , Coebett (UP),

Kanha (MP) , Manas (Assam) , Melghat (Maharastra), Palamau (Bihar) ,

Ranthambhore (Rajasthan), Similipal (Orissa) , Sundarbans(W.Bengal), Pariyar

(Kerala), Sariska (Rajasthan), Buxa (W. Bengal) , Indravati (m), Nagarjunsagar

(AP), Namdhapa(Arunchal Pradesh), Dudhwa(UP), Kalkad Mundanthurai (Timal

Nadu) and Valmiki(Bihar).

Presently there are twenty three tigers in 14 States of the

country covering an area of 33,000 Sq .Km. .The list of tiger Reserves is given in

the table 1. During 1994-95 an amount of 770 lakhs has been provided as central

assistance for development and maintenance of project Tiger area. During 1994-

95 two new Tiger Reserves namely , Panna (MP0 and Dampha (MiZoram) have

been established.

A Steering Committee under the chairmanship of the

Prime Minister provides guidelines for the management of the tiger Reserves.
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During 1991-92, 6 crores of rupees have been provided for the maintenance and

development of existing 18 Tiger Reserves is being processed. Rs. 50 Lakhs has

been Buxa, Sundarban, Nagarjuna Sagar, Bandipur and Kalakad Mundanthurai

Tiger Reserves During 1991- 92 .

Tiger are gradually dying because of loss of habitat, diminishing

stocks of prey and poaching. About 100,000 tigers lived in the Asian wilderness

at the beginning of this century. Only about 5000 or about 5% are believed to

remain today. Atleast three species of tiger are already extinct. Tiger population

in China, India, Bhutan and Nepal is gradually declining. If conservation efforts

are not implemented efficiently, there will be no tiger life in the future . Poaching

is on the increase due to the high value of tiger bone which is used in traditional

Chinese medicine. Conservation groups around the world have designated 1998

as the year to save the tiger . Recently , the world wideFund for Nature (WWF)

announced an emergency fund of US $ 200,000, which will be part of

conservation fund for tigers . Sepcific areas in India , Burma, Laos, Combodia,

thialand, Malaysia, Indonesia, China and Russia have been identified where

efforts will be made to halt poaching, safeguard the tiger and rebuild the base of

prey to safeguard tiger survival . It is to be noted that Caspian tiger became

extinct in 1970s, Japan tiger in 1980s and Bali tiger in 1940s.

Better known as our national animal, the tiger was estimated to number

around 40000 at the turn of the century . Indiscriminate hunting has reduced their

numbers to less than 2000 today. After independence, vast forests were covered

into agricultural land and this almost proved to be last straw for the Tiger . Project
 21
tiger was launched in 1973 to stop the merciless decimation of these majestic

cats . For almost two decades the graph of tiger recovery has shown an unward

trend , even if the census figures trotted out by National Park magement were

more fanciful than real . However , over the past 5 year a rising demand for

tigers bones , skins and body parts, primarlly form country . The tiger is the spirit

of the jungle . It can not be saved in isolation . Its presence indicates a forest’s

health and its absence shown decay . These words hold more true to day than

ever before, as the foundations of our forest wealth wither before our own eyes.

The Royal Bengal Tiger is the symbol of conservation efforts in India ,

Launched in 1973, Project tiger was initiated with much fanfare , but after its

initial success things went astray. The tiger population had declined to an

alarming low of 1827. In the late 1980s and 1989 . At present the official figure is

3750 . The reason behind this decline is poaching all illegal international trade in

tiger bones and teeth . Till a few years back, the main demand was for tiger’s

skin . The Environmental Investigation Agency reports that as many as 21.6

million capsules of tiger derivatives could have been imported in 1993 by Japan

from China alone . Since tiger population in most other parts of Asia has been

reduced to extinction , the Indian tiger become the main source of supply for

Chinese medicines .

There has recently been an upsurge of speculation about the future

of Indian tiger . The numbers of tigers in Indian reserved increase by 39 between

1998 and 1993 . But this includes tigers in 5 reserves where either earlier data

were not available, or which have been declared a reserve between 1989 and
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1993 . The total population in these reserves is 146 . If these reserves are

excluded , the figure for 1993 is 1220 , which is 107 less than 1989, including

that the tiger population has reduced even in the reserves. The number of tigers

in the reserves of bandipur , Corbrett, Dudhwa, Kanha, Sariska ,Similipal,

Namdapha, Buxa, Indravati, Kalakad- Mundantharai, Manas , Melghat, Nagerjun

Sagar, Palamau , Periyar , Ranthambhore , Sunderbans and valmiki in 1989

were 50 , 91, 90 , 97, 19, 93, 47, 33, 28, 22, 92, 77 , 94, 55, 45, 269, and 81

respectively . The number of tigers in 1993 in the same reserves were 66, 123,

94, 100, 24, 95, 47, 29, 18, 17, 81, 72, 44, 44, 30, 36, 250, and 49 respectively.

The total population of tigers in all the reserves of India in 1989 and 1993 was

1327 and 1366 respectively.

The Indiaan may yet be saved. AHyderbad based Center for Cellular

and Molecular Biology has started a project that aims to produce the endangered

species through test tube births in collaboration with the city based Nehru

Zoological Park.

The Word Wide Fund (WWF) for Nature has decided to support 10

more protected areas in the country in 1998, while entering the second year of its

three year tiger conservation programme . Protected area comprising less than

2% of the land mass hold most of the tigers. According to WWF, of the 3750

tigers counted in 1993, 962 were in the protected areas.

• 75% of project tiger reserves do not have an effective armed strike

force for antipoaching .

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• 63% of project tiger reserves do not have a large vehicle for the mobility

of this strike force .

• 75% project tiger reserves do not have sufficient legal aid to deal with

offences and counter offences .

• 69% of project tiger reserves do not have any form of registration of

arms in the 10Km redius surrounding the park .

• 56% of project tiger reserves do not monitor to daily movement of the

tigers.

The Wildlife conservation efforts suffered a major setback following the

recent killings of 4 tigers in the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve , Uttar Pradesh . Al,l the

tigers are side to have been killed by poisoning in December 1997 , tow tigers

diedfrom poisoning in jim Corbett National Park , Uttar Pradesh . Nearly 65 tigers

were killed during 1997 . According to environmentalists out of 3750 tigers in

1993 , the population has gone down to 3000 . the case of tiger deaths due to

poisoning have increased in recent times . In 1996 , 20 tigers were reported to be

killed by poisoning . Apart from poachers , a large number of tiger deaths are

associated with the resider in the vicinity of the national park.

The project Elephant was launched during theyear 1991-92.

The aim of the project is to ensure long term survival of identified viable

population and to tackle the problematic elephant population that that are

causing serious depredation . The project proviedes for restoring the lost and

degraded habitals of elephants . It also aims at improving the quality of life of

people living around elephant habitals through sustainable development .

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The main objectives of Project Elephant are:-

a) Restoring migratory groups of elephants.

b) Improving of elephant habitat by suitable plantation .

c) Creating fence along forest border areas where damage to the crops

by the elephants is severe .

d) Translocation of elephants to suitable and safer habitats .

The endangered Asian elephants have a new friend in

USA . A proposal to spend up to US $ 25 million to conserve the Asian elephants

could go a long way toward saving them from extinction . Tow decades ago ,

Asian elephants , also known as Indian elephants numbered more than 75,000

across south and southeast Asia , where they are mostly found . But lost of

habitat , capture and other threats have reduced their population to less than

45,000 worldwide .

For saving the endangered species like Asiatic lion , which

is struggling for its existence in the Gir forest , the Gir Lion Project, a 5 year plan

scheme was prepared in 1972 by the government of Gujarat. Gir Sanctuary ,

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which was taken under this project now covers an area of 1412 sq. km. In 1974

there were 180 lions while in May 1979 their number increased to 205 .

The Crocodiles Project started in India on 1.4.1975 . Since than 16

crocodiles breeding centers have been developed in 8 states of India from 1975

to 1978 . These states are AP , Bihar, Gujarat , Kerala, Orissa, Rajasthan, Tamil

Nadu and U.P.

There are three species of crocodiles in India. There are:

a) Fresh Water Crocodile.

b) Salt Water Crocodile, and

c) Ghariyal.

All of these have been declared endangered .

The centrally sponsored Conservation of Rhinoceros in Assam was

introduced in 1987 and is continued till date .

Under snow Leopard project , a creation of 12 snow leopard reserves are being

planned throughout the Himalayas .

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TIGER RESERVES IN INDIA

Name of Tiger Reserves State Total area(in

sq. Kms)

Bandipur Karnataka 866

Corbett Uttar Pradesh 1316

Kanha Madhya Pradesh 1945

Manas Assam 2840

Melghat Maharashtra 1597

Palamau Bihar 1026

Ranthambhore Rajasthan 1334

Similipal Orissa 2750

Sunderbans West Bengal 2585

Periyar Kerla 777

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Sariska Rajasthan 866

Buxa West Bengal 759

Indravati Madhya Pradesh 2799

Nagarjun Sagar Andhra Pradesh 3585

Namdapha Arunachal Pradesh 1985

Dudhwa Uttar Pradesh 811

Kalakad Mundanthurai Tamil Nadu 800

Valmik Bihar 840

Pench Madhya Pradesh 758

Tadoba- Andheri Maharashtra 620

Bandhavgarh Madhya Pradesh

1162
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Panna Madhya Pradesh

542

Dampha Mizoram

500

Hangul of Kashmir stag is now limited to Dechigam wildlife sanctuary

Kashmir . The Project Hangul was started in 1970. The joint efforts of experts and

that of government of jummu and Kashmir have ensured the survival of the hangul.

Their number was 347 in March 1980 .

Spurred by the success of” Project Tiger”the Karnataka government

has decided to lunch project elephant to save Asian elephants in the state .

Rs. 5.2 Crore project was aimed at protecting over 4.400 elephants

covering a distance of 5,070 Km. From the Wet evergreen forests in coorg district

to dry thorny scrub forests in Madhya and Banglore districts .

The National Zoological Park , New Delhi presently displays 1143

animals comprising of 70 species of mammals 88 psecies of birds and 5 species of

reptiles .
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The Padma Naidu Himalayan Park or Zoological Pard in Darjeeling

(w. Bengal) houses and breeds a number of endangered and rere species of wild

animals and birds .

Nature reserves are usually designated to gove protection to

those species of plants or animals which are rare. For example, some sea birds.

Wild birds and plant species are protected in Great Britain . The France Islands off

the coast of the north umber land in UK are a sanctuary for the grey scales . Small

Islands in Sahab, Malaysia Protect frigate birds. Gir forests in Gujarat preserve Gir

Lions . Kaziranga sanctuary in Assam gives shelter to one horned rhinoceros .

An assemblage of wild animals is also protected and usually

known as assemblage protection . The assemblage protection . The assemblages

may have some linked affinity . For example, wild fowl refugeesof USA cater for

the nesting or migration of many species of ducks , geese and waders . Delhi zoo

and bharatpur Bird sanctuary are the specially managed places in India for the

assemladge of migratory birds . High mountain reserves sometimes protect a very

diverse suite of alpine plants.

(b) Habital Preservation __ Establishment of sanctuaries and National Park

. In India, Government has set up more than 400 wildlife sanctuaries and more

than 70 national parks for the protection and preservation of wildlife . Reserves
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which are large and diverse enogh to protect whole sets of ecosystem, which are

rare on a national or world basis are usually known as National Parks. These

preserve flora , fauna, landscapes and historic objects of an area. Sanctuaries

prohibited except under orders an authorized preson . The sanctuaries provide

protection and optimum living conditions to wild animals. Indian sanctuaries

possess unique landscapes, broad level forests , mountain , forests and virgin

bush lands in deltas of big river .

The activities to implement National Wildlife Action Plan include------------

1. Establishment of network of protected area by governments to

cover all major wildlife ecosystems comprising of 416 wildlife sanctuaries and 73

national parks .

2. The development of appropriate management

systems for protected areas .

3. Proper orientation of all officers concerned with

wild life .

4. The review and updating of provisions protection

of wildlife and regulating all forms of trade in ensure effectiveness.

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5. Support for management of Botanical and

Zoological Parks and Gardens.

6. Participation in international conventions designed

to prevent the depleting of wild life resources and to provide protection of migratory

species.

7. Control domestic and international trade in wild

life and its products.

Indian Board of Wildlife has been reconstituted during jJanury 1991, under

chairmanship of the Prime Minister.

The functions of the board are --------

1. To advise central and state government on means and

ways of promoting conservation and effectively controlling poaching of wildlife

through legislative as well as administrative measures .

2. To advise on the setting up of sanctuaries , national parks

and Zoological gardens .

3. To advise the Govt. on policy regarding export of living

animals , trophies , skins, furs, feathers and other products of wildlife.

 32
4. To review the progress of wildlife in the country from time

of time .

5. To promote public interest in wildlife and on the need for

its preservation in hharmony with natural and human environment .

6. To assist and encourage the formation of wildlife societies .

7. To perform such other functions as are germane to the

purpose for which the Board is constituted.

8. To do all such other things alone or in conjugation with

others or on the direction of govt of India, which the Board may consider

necessary,advisable or conductive to the preservation and conservation of wildlife.

Efforts are also being made by the Forest Ministry to establish State Advisory

Boards, so that the states could be actively involved in the Animal welfare Activities

as well as the implementation of the prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act,

1960. Six states have so far natified the formation of such advisory boards.

Under the provisions PCA Act , 1960, the Animal Welfare Board of India has

been set up to perform the following functions -----

1. To promote the cause of Animal Welfare in India.

 33
2. To encourage he activities of the society for prevention of cruelty to

Animals and other Animal welfare Organizations.

3. To provide functional assistance to the voluntary Animal welfare

Organizations. For animal population and anti rabies programe,rescue homes and

shelters, instigatings of animals in natural calamities, purchase of ambulance and

medical equipment, veterinary hospitals and purchase of films etc. For carring out

the Animal welfare Awareness Programmes.

The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), established in 1916, carries out

faunistic studies. Its head quarter is in Calcutta and has 15 regional / ecogical /

field stations located in different parts of the country.

During 1991- 92 ,ZSI conducted 80 surveys of faunal resources covering 65 ditricts

falling under different ecosystems of the country . The conducted surveys include

Himalayan eco-system , Desert eco-system, Tropical rainforest , Ecosystem,

wetlands, National Parks and Biosphere reserves etc . Faunistic studies conducted

by ZSI include fauna of Meghalaya, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh ,Madhya Pradesh,

TamilNadu,Himalayan eco-system, wetlands, Marine eco-system and Biosphere

reserves and National Parks. National Zoological collections were also enriched

during 1991-92 by the addition of 56,243 identified specimen belongiging to 14

new species . Awild life week was celebrated in the auditorium of ZSI< Calcutta on

3-10-91.
 34

Financial assistance was provided to 28 National Parks and 123 sanctuaries

during 1991-92 for conservation programmes.

CATEGORIES OF THE INDIAN WILDLIFE.

There are five important types of wildlife in India. There are:-

(a) Endangered – Those wildlife species whose number has been reducedto

a critical level or whose habitats are fully destroyed and are on the verge of

extinction .

(b) Vulnerable - Those species which are expected to move in the

endangered category in the coming future.

(c) Rare – The species which are at great risk.

(d) Theratend – Species which are one of the above categories, i.e.,

endangered, vulnerable and rare.

(e) Out of Danger – The species to whom the threat of survival has been

overcome..
 35

CHAPTER – 4

Endangered Species in India

Endangered Species.

Protected Wildlife of India.

Biosphere Reserve Programmed.

 36

ENDANGERED SPECIES
There are various factors due to which fauna or animals of a specified region may

be danger . These factors include,

(a) Direct exploition by man.

(b) Threat from other species.

(c) Changes of being bounded or physical injury.

(d) Pressure on highly specified habital ., native environment etc.

 37

ENDANGRED SPECIES

SPECIES LOCATION

Asian Lions Gir (Gujarat)

Asiatic buffalo North India

Asiatic leopard Pakistan

Dear Meghalaya, Kashmir

andNepal

Elephant Assam, Ceylon and South

India

Frog Island of Indian Oceans

 38

Grizzly bear Western USA

Kiwi Bird New Zealand

Lion-tailed Monkey Keral

Wild Donkeys Kutch(Gurajat)

Any of the above factors either singly or in combination may create the chances

for certain species to become extinct or even to exist no longer . Such a species

is called endangered species.These species are also in grave danger of

extinction because of poaching or hunting illegally. First, they are expected to be

exposed when the destruction of the forests removes their cover of shelter . They

then fall easy prey to the poachers who want them for their horns, skins and

tunks.

Table 2 shows some endangered species together with their location.

Few threatened and endangered animals in India are given below.

(a) Mammals- Brow antlered deer, Fishing cat, Ganges river dolphin,

Great Indian rhinoceros, Hispid hare, Oriental small clawed otter,

Smooth coated otter, Swamp deer, Wild Asiatic water Buffalo, Indian

pangolin, Desert cat , Jungle cat, Leopard cat , Red fox , Wild dog,
 39
Himalayan brown beer, Red panda, Striped hyaeha, Indian bison,

Wild yak , Assam rabbit, Flying squirrel and Tahrs .

(b) Birds- Bengal florican, Black breasted parrot bill, Black necked

crane, Black necked stork, Finn’s baya weaver , Himalayan fishing eagle, Marsh

babbler, Masked finfoot , Pink headed duck, Swamp partridge, White bellied

heron, Wood snipe, Grey headed fishing eagle, Jerdon’s babbler, Spot-billed

pelican, White bellied sea-eagle and white winged wood duck.

(c) Reptiles - Ghariyal, Green turtle, Olive, River Terrapin, Cane

turtle, Leather back turtle, Red crowned roofed turtle, Assam roofed turtle, Black

mocrohylid and Marsh crocodile.

(d) Amphibia - The viviparous toad and Indian salamander.

(e) Invertebrate Arthropods- Large hermit crab, months, beetles and

some butterflies, 55 forms of months and butterflies are known in India . Out of

these 14 come under the category of threatened and endangered species and

are rare.

PROTECTED WILDLIFE OF INDIA

The following mammals, birds and reptiles have been conserved in the National

Parks and Sanctuaries and are declared to be protected.

 40
Mammals- 4 species of Antelope: Black buck (Indian antelope), Chousinga (Four

horned antelope), Nilgai (Blue Bull),Boselaphus tragocamelus, Gazelle(Chinkara)

wild ass, wild bear, Sloth bear, Paboons, Bharal, wild buffalo (Bulbalus bubalis)

Boar,Badger, Binturong, Bison (Gaur, Mithum, Bos gaurus), Civet.Jungle cat,

Marbled cat, Golden cat, Desert cat and Rusty spotted cat, Caracal, Gangetic

dolphin, Dugong, wild dog. Indian elephant (Elephusmaximus), clouded leopard

(Neofelis bebulosa), Snow leopard (P .Uncia) , Leopard cat (Felis bengalensis),

Capped langer, golden langer, Hanuman langer, Asiatic lion (Panthera leo

persica), Slow loris, leaf monkey, macaque, Muntjac, Otter, Pangolion, Wild pig,

Rhinoceros, Ratel. Nine species of deer: Musk deer (Kastura Moschus

maschiferus ). Hog deer (Hog hiran), Barking deer (Kotra, Rib faceddeer),

Swamp deer (Barasinga, Cervus duvuaceli branderi). Dancing deer (Sambhar),

Brow antlered deer (Cervus eldi eldi or Sangai), Kashmir stag (hangul cervus

elephus hanglu ). Spotted deer (Cheetal, Axis axis), Serow, Flying squirrel, Tiger,

ther,Takin, Wold, Yak.

Birds- Babblers, Bulbul, Barbet, Great Indian bustard, Cheer, Cormorant,

Crane, Darter, Bengal florican, Egrets, Golden eagle. Crested serpent eagle,

Geese, Hoppie, Heron , King fisher, Golden oriole, Magpie, Phaesants, Peacock,

Patridges, Pelicans, Quail. Snowcock, Sarus, Sand piper, Spoonbill, Strok,

Tragopan, Treepie, Wood pecker.

Reptiles- Marsh crocodile (Fresh water crocodile, Muggar, Crocodilus palustris),

Esturarine crocodile (Salt Water Crocodile, Crocodilus porosus), Gharial

 41
(Gavialisgangeticus), Monitor, Cobra, Python, Fiddler crab,Ridley sea turtle,

Green sea turtle, Leather backed turtle, Indian soft shelled turtle.

BIOSPHERE RESERVE PROGRAMME

The Biosphere reserve Network Programme was launched by UNSCO in 1971

under its Man and Biosphere Progeramme (MBP). The main objective of the

programme are:-

A) To conserve representative samples of ecosystem.

b) To provide long term in situ conservation of genetic

diversity of both plants and animals.

c) To promote and facilitate basic and applied research

and monitoring.

d) To provide opportunity for education and training.

e) To promote appropriate sustainable managements of

the living sources.

 42
f) To disseminate the experience to to promote

sustainable development elsewhere, and

g) To promote international co-operation.

The essentional characteristics of a protected area to be regarded as a

biosphere reserve are:-

(1) The area is not hiched to any one or two or more species, but to the

whole ecosystem. In India 12 such biographic regions have been

recognized . These are:-

a) Himalayan High lands.

b) Thar Desert.

c) Malabar Rain forest.

d) Deccan Thom Forest.

e) Bengalian Rain forest.

f) Burman Monsoon forest

g) Laccadive Islands.
 43
h) Maldive and Chagos Islands.

i) Andaman and Nicober Islands.

j) Commandal mahanandia

2) A biosphere reserve is over 5670 sq. km . In area in order to maintion

natural populations in numbers which in future will not lead to genetic

drift.

3) A biosphere reserve consiste of a core area and a buffer zone . The

core is strictly protected to maintion its ecological integrity and adversity. In buffer

zone there is biotic interference.

In India, the first biosphere reserve established in 1986 was the Nilgiri Biosphere

Reserve , having an area of 5670 sq . Km . And covering the states of Tamil

Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala. The second Biosphere Reserve was Nanda Devi

Biosphere Reserve was Nanda davi Biosphere Reserve of U.P. ,Which covered

an area of 2000 sq. Km. The third reserve was the Nokrek of Meghalaya and the

fourth was set up in 1989 as Great Nicober.

Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve comprises rain forest area , including the famous Silent

Valley and the western Ggats in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

This area also includes the Bandipur and the Nagarhole National Parks. About20

different tribal groups live in these forests. The area is very rich in biodiversity

and consists of almost all important groups of terrestrial and fresh water animals.
 44

Some other representative ecosystems to be protected as

biosphere reserves are:-

a) Gulf of Mannar (Tamil Nadu)

b) Namdapha (Arunchal Pradesh)

c) Uttarkhand(Valley of flower, U.P)

d) Kanha (M.P.)

e) Manas (Assam)

f) Kaziranga (Assam)

g) Sunderbans (West Bengal)

h) Little Rann of Kutch (Gujarat)

i) Thar Deseri(Rajasthan)
 45

CHAPTER – 5

Some Indian Sanctuaries & National

Parks

Indian Sanctuaries and National Park

Location of National Parks and

Sanctuaries
 46

SOME INDIAN SANCTURARIES AND NATIONAL PARKS

1. Kazoranga Wildlife Sanctury- This sanctuary was established in

1926 in sibsagar district of Assam on the South Bank of Brahmputer river . It

consists of about 430 sq. Kms. Of forests, grassland and swamps . It supports a

fauna of 700 rhinoceros, in addition to a large number of other wild animals such

as elephant, biston, tiger , deer, wild boar and a variety of birds such as pelican ,

stork and ring tailed fishing eagles.

2. Manas Wildlife Sanctury- It is located in Kamrupa district of Assam . It is

situated at an altude of 80 metres and an area of 540 sq . Kms. River Manas

passes through it . It contains wild animals such as tiger, wild dog, panther, wild

boar, rhinoceros, sambhar and swamp deer, golden langur etc.

3. Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary- This sanctuary is situated in Jaldapara ,

district of West Bengal and contains 65 Kms. Stretch of grassland. It contains

 47
wild life animals like rhinoceros, elephant, tiger, deer, leopard, gaur and a large

number of retiles and birds.

4. Mundanthuari Sanctury- It was established in 1962 in Tiruneveli

district of Tamil Nadu. It has an area of about 525 sq .Kms. It is provided with

evergreen forests and Tamaraparani river flows through it. It includes wild

animals like tiger, sambhar, panther and chital.

5. Ranganthitoo Bird Sanctury- This sanctuary covers about 165 sq.

Kms. And includes a series of of islands in cauvery river 15 kms. Off the

banglore –Mysore Road near Srirangapattnam. It contains open billstock, egret,

spoon bill, wild duck, night heron, plefowl etc.

6. Bandipur Wildlife Sanctuary- It was established in 1941. It is situated 80

Kms. South of mysore city enroute to Octacamud. It has an area of more than

870sq. Kms.And is located at a altitude of 1454 metres. It has thick forests.Its

wild life fauna includes gaur, elephant , leopard, wild dog, panther, barking deer,

chital, langur etc.

7. Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary- It has an area of 780 sq. Kms. And is

situated in south Goa. It has evergreen forests and contains wild animals like

gaur, leopard, porcupine, panther, sambhar, chital, hog-deer, wildboar, barking

deer etc. And birds like lorikeet, woodpecker, bulbul, egret, jungle fowl etc.
 48

8. Periyar Wild life Sanctuary- It has an area 780 sq. Kms. It was

established in 1940 in Kerala state around the artificial lake which arose behind

the dam built across the periyar river in 1900 . Its wild life fauna includes

elephants, gaur, leopard, sambhar, barking deer, wilddogs, black Nilgiri langur,

wild boar and a variety of water birds.

9. Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary- It was established in North Western

Part of Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu in 1940. It has green thick forests and diversity of

wild life fauna that includes elephant, gaur, sambhar, chital, mouse deer, barking

deer , tiger , panther, monkey, langur, wild dog, jackal, wild cat, porcupine, flying

lizard, flying squirrel, rats, snakes and a variety of birds.

• In 2000 B.C. there was plenty of energy in the universe , but no

technology to tap it,and man used little energy.

• In 2000 A.D. there wild be state of the art technologies to tap our

conventional sources of energy, but will the barren sources force us to

lead a primitive life , thus completing the cycle of evolution?

• No we will never let that happen . If only we learn to use what this

bountiful nature has to offer, the perennial and inexhaustible source of

energy , that is in SUN .

• It will there------ So let us dedicate to the task of developing viable and

reliable technologies for harnessing renewable sources of energy .

 49
10. Kolameru Birds Sanctuary- It is situated near Tadepallegudam in Andhra

Pradesh. It is a small sanctuary and breeding place for pelicans and many

marine birds visit this place .

11. Guindy Deer Park - It is situated near Madras and mainly has chitals and

black bucks and few albinos of black buck .

12. Sesan Gir - It it famous for Asiatic lion and situated in Gujarat state ,

about 470 kms . From Ahmedabad . Its area is about 1290 sq . kms. It fauna

includes Asisatic lion , spotted deer , blue bull (Nilgai) four horned antelope ,

chinkara , wild bear , porcupine , langur , python , crocodiles , and a variety of

birds such as green pigeon , partridge , rock- grouse etc .

13. Sariska - It is situated near Alwar in Rajasthan and one of the most

beautiful wildlife sanctuaries . Its area is about 800 sq. km. It has dense Dohokra

and Solar forests . It fauna includes tiger , leopard , jungle cat, four horned

antelope , spotted deer , langur , pea foul and porcupine etc .

14. Chilka Lake - This is the largest inland lake with an area of about 1000 sq.

km. It is situated at about 100 kms. From Bhubaneshwar in Orissa . It typical

fauna includes water fowls , ducks , cranes , golden plovers, stone curlews , and

pipers etc .
 50
15. Bharatpur Birds Sanctuary- It is located at bharatpur in Rejasthan . It

has an area of 29 sq. kms. And harbour all kinds of indigenous nesting water

birds , water side birds and migratory birds . It supports more than 325 Varieties

of birds , including cormorants , Spoon bills , white etc . This sanctuary is also

visited by many migratory birds like ducks , geese , Siberian cranes etc. Drier

parts of this sanctuary have wild animals such as spotted deer , black buck ,

sambhar , blue bull and baboon .

16. Dachigam wildlife sanctuary - It was established in 1951 in Kasmir, 26

kms away from Srinagar . It area about 90 sq kms . It mainly preserves hangul

or kasmir stag , but also have animals like muck , deer , leopard , black bear ,

bown bear and baboon .

17. Bhagwan Mahadeva Wildlife Sanctuary - It is lockted in North goa . Its

area is 240 sq . kms. It supports fauna almost similar to Cotigo world life

sanctuary .

18. Sultanpur Lake Birds Sanctury - Its area about 2 sq. kms. It is lockted at

Gurgaon district of Haryana . Its fauna includes crane , sarus , spot bill , drake

and rudyshet etc.

19. Birds Motibagh Sanctuary It is located at patiala in

Punjab . Its fauna includes black buck , blue bull , hog

deer , hare , Jackal, and a variety of birds such as dove ,

 51
pigeon , parakeet , myna , peafowl , partridge , sparrow

etc .

20. Shivpuri Sanctuary - It is an asylum for tiger and is situated in Madhya

Pradesh .

21. Corbett National Pard - It was an asylum for tigers and situated in

Madhya Pradesh.

22. Corbett National Park - It was constituted in 1935 . It is one of most

famous Indian National Park . It is situated between National and Garhwal

Districts of U.P. Its area is about 525 sq kms . And is located within west to south

bend Ramganga river .

23. Palamau National Park - It has an area of about 345 sq. kms. And is

located in Dalton gunj district of Bihar . It contains thick tropical forests and

supports wild life animals like tiger , panther , sloth beer, chital , nilgai ,

chinkara , mouse deer , gaur etc .

24. Hazaribagh National Park - It was also established in bihar in 1954 . Its

area is more than 180 sq. kms. It contains thick thick tropical forests . It

includes wild animals like wild board , sambhar , nilgai , leopard , hyena , gaur

, tiger , and sloth bear etc .

 52

25. Simplipal National Park - It has an area of 2750 sq. km. And located in

Mayurbhang district of Orissa . It contains dense forests . Its typical fauna

includes elephant , deer , chital , sambher , panther , hyena , pea fowl , sloth

bear , gaur etc .

26. Ranthambhor National Park - This National Park is situated in

Swaimadhopur district of Rajasthan . It has an area of 392 sq . kms . This

park shelters Tiger , Panther , Jungle cat , Civet , Sambar , Hyena , Chital ,

Nilgiri , Chinkara , Crocodile , Red squr fowl, caracal , Serpent eagle etc .This

park is the smallest of all the Project Tiger Reserves .

27. Tadoba National Park - This park is located in Chandpur district of

Mhaharashtra . it has an area of 116 sq. km. It consists of Tiger , Samber ,

Sloth bear, Chital , Biston , Deer, Blue bull, Four borned antelope , Peacocks

and Langoors. The lake present in the park also contains some crocodiles.

28. Paint Calimer Sanctuary -- This sanctuary is situated in Thanjavur district

of madras (Tamil Nadu).It covers an area of 12 sq . kms. It protects the shoreline

and hinter land of saline langoon . It shelters black buck , chital , Bonnet money.

Mongoose and jackals etc.

 53
29. Nagarjunsagar Wildlife Sanctury - It is located in Mahbubangar in Andhra

Pradesh .It has an area of about 1200 sq. kms. This wildlife includes Tiger ,

Leopard, Sloth bear, Stripped hyena, Barking deer, Chinkara Chital, Sambar,

Langur, Macque and Indian Pangolin etc. This sanctuary also has a dam across

the River Krishna. It is the largest of all Project tiger Reserves in India.

30. Kanha National Park -- This National Park was established in 1955 in

manda district of Madhya Pradesh . It is about 175 Km. From Jabalpur . It has an

area of about 940 sq. km. It includes Tiger, Panther , Hyena, Chital , Samber ,

Blck Buck, Wild boar , Gaur and a Variety of birds and Pythones . This Park has

been chosen for Project Tiger .

In addition to protection of wildlife by law and also by establishing the national

parks and sanctuaries, a number of other steps may also be taken to preserve

wildlife . Improtant steps are ---

1. Wildlife management staff should be capable of

having coorret and accurate idea about the wild

animals should be carefully protected .

2. National habital wild animals should be carefully

protected.

3. Habitals of wildlife should be improved by

constructing water holes, salt lick, and by

plantation of better and nourishing fodder

grasses and trees.

 54
4. Shooting and hunting of enlarged species

should be strictly prohibited.

5. Veterinary efforts should be made in order to

save wild animals from epidemics.

6. Research on wild life should be encouraged in

order to know better the biology as well as the

behavior of wild animals.

7. Public should be educated about the

advantages and disadvantages of wildlife.

8. The Acts and laws enforced for wildlife

protection should be strictly followed and serve

punishment should be given to those who are

found guilty.

NAMES AND LOCATIONS OF THE NATIONAL PARKS AND

SANCTURIES

THE GREAT MOUNTAIN ZONE OF HIMALAYAS JAMMU AND KASHMIR

Dachigam National Park Srinagar

Kishwar National Park Kishwar

 55
Hemi High Altitude National Park Leh

Jasrota Wildlife Sanctury Kathua

Lungnag wildlife Sanctuary Kargil

Nadini wildlife Sanctuary Jammu

Overa wildlife Sanctuary Anantnag

Ram Nager Wildlife Sanctuary Jammu

Surinar Wildlife Sanctuary Udhampur

HIMACHAL PRADESH

Great Himalayan National Park Kullu

Pin Valley National Park N.E.(H. P)

BandiWildlife Sanctuary Mandi

Chail Wildlife Sanctuary Solan

Daranghati Wildlife Sanctuary Shimla

 56

Doriaghat Wildlife Sanctuary Solan

Gamgul Slah Behi Wildlife Sanctuary Chamba

Gobind Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary Bilaspur

Kalatop Khajjiar Wildlife Sanctuary Chamba

Kanawar Wildlife Sanctuary Kullu

Khokhan Wildlife Sanctuary Kullu

Kias Wildlife Sanctuary Kullu

Kugti Wildlife Sanctuary Chamba

Lipoa Asrang Wildlife Sanctuary Kimaur

Majathal Wildlife Sanctuary Shimla

Manali Wildlife Sanctuary Kullu

Naina Wildlife Sanctuary Bilaspur

 57
Nargu Wildlife Sanctuary Mandi

Pong Dan Wildlife Sanctuary Kangra

Rakchham Chitkul Wildlife Sanctuary Kinnaur

Renuka Wildlife Sanctuary Sirmour

Rupi Bhava Wildlife Sanctuary Kinnual

Suchu Tun Nala Wildlife Sanctuary Chamba

Shikari Devi Wildlife Sanctuary Mandi

Shilli Wildlife Sanctuary Solan

HIMACHAL PRADESH

Shimla Water Catchmant Area Shimla

Sambalpara Wildlife Sanctuary Sirmur

Talra Wildlife Sanctuary Shimla

Tirthan Wildlife Sanctuary Kullu

 58

Tundah Wildlife Sanctuary Chamba

INDO GANGETIC PLAIN PUNJAB

Abohar Wildlife Sanctuary Ferozpur

Birbunerheri wildlife Sanctuary Patiala

Bir Gurdialpura Wildlife Sanctuary Patiala

Hari Lake Wildlife Sanctuary Amritsar

CHANDIGARH

Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary Chandigharh

HARYANA

Sultanpur (Lake) Bird Sanctuary Gurgaon

UTTAR PRADESH

Corbet National Park Nainital

 59

Dudhwa National Park Kheri

Balley of Flowers National Park Chamoli

Nanda Devi National Park Chamoli

Chandraprabha Wildlife Sanctuary Varanasi

Chila Wildlife Sabctuary Pauri Garhwal

Givind Wildlife Sanctuary Uttar Kashi

Kaimar Wildlife Sanctuary Mirzapur

Katemiaghat Wildlife Sanctuary Bahraich

Kedamath Wildlife Sanctuary Chamoli

Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary Lakhimpur

Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary Lalitpur

Motichur Wildlife Sanctuary Dehradum

 60
National Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary Etawah

Nawabganj Wildlife Sanctuary Unnao

Rajaji wildlife Sanctuary Sahampur

Ranipur Wildlife Sanctuary Banda

BIHAR

Hazaribagh National Park Hazaribagh

Palamau Betla National Park Palaman

Bhimbanddh Wildlife Sanctuary Monghyr

Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary Singhbhum

Gautam Wildlife Sanctuary Hazaribagh

Lawalong Wildlife Sanctuary Hazaribagh

Karimpur Wildlife Sanctuary Rohtas

 61
Mahuadaur Wildlife Sanctuary Palamau

Nagidam Wildlife Sanctuary Manghtar

Rajgir Wildlife sanctuary Nalanda

Topchanchi Wildlife Sanctuary Dhanbad

Udaipur Wildlife Sanctuary W, Champaran

Valmiki Wildlife Sanctuary W, Champaran

WEST BENGAL

Sunderbans Natioonal Park 24 Paraganas(S)

Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary Jalpaiguri

Sajnakhali Wildlife Sanctuary 24 Parganas(S)

Ballarpur Wildlife Sanctuary Birbhum

Bethuadahari Wildlife Sanctuary Nadia

Gorumara Wildlife Sanctuary Jalapaiguri

 62

Holiday Wildlife Sanctuary 24

Paraganas

Lothion Island Wildlife Sanctuary 24

Paraganas

Nahananda Wildlife Sanctuary Darjeeling

Narendrapur Wildlife Sanctuary 24

Paraganas

Parmadan Wildlife Sanctuary 24 Paragana

Ramnabagan Wildlife Sanctuary Burdwan

Sanchal Wildlife Sanctuary Darjeeling

Deer Park Wildlife Sanctuary 24 Parganas(N)

Snake Park Wildlife Sanctuary 24 Paragans(N)

ASSAM

Kaziranga National Park Sibsagar

 63

Manas Wildlife Sanctuary Barpeta

Barnadi Wildlife Sanctuary Nagaon

Garam Pani Wildlife Sanctuary Jorhat

Laokhnowa Nagaon

Orang Wildlife Sanctuary Darrang

Pabha Wildlife sanctuary Lakhimpur

Pabitra Wildlife Sanctuary Nagaon

Sonai Rupa Wildlife Sanctuary Darrang

NAGALAND

Fakim Wildlife Sanctuary Thensang

Intenki Wildlife Sanctuary Kohima

Pulit Badze Kohima

 64
ORISSA

Simpal National Park Mayurbhanj

Baisipalli Wildlife Sanctuary Puri

Balukhanhd Wildlife Sanctuary Puri

Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary Cuttack

Chandaka and Dampada Wildlife Sanctuary Puri & Cuttak

Chilka Wildlife Sanctuary Puri Ganjam

Dubrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary Sambalpur

Hadgarh Wildlife Sanctuary Keonjhar

Khalasuni Wildlife Sanctuary Sambalpur

Kotgarh Wildlife Sanctuary Phulbani

Kuldiha wildlife Sanctuary Balasore

Nandan Kanan Wildlife Sanctuary Puri

 65

Satkosia Gorge Wildlife Sanctuary

Dhenkanal,Cuttak,Puri

Simplipal Wildlife Sanctuary Mayurbhanj

Sunabeda Wildlife Sanctuary Kalahandi

Usha Kothi Wildlife Sanctuary Sambalpur

ARUNACHAL PRADESH

Namdapha National Park Tirap

Itangar Wildlife Sanctuary Lower Subansiri

Lali Wildlife Sanctuary East Slang

Mahao Reserve Forests Dibang

Valley

Pakhut Reserve Forests East

Kameng.

MIZORAM
 66

Danipa Wildlife Sanctuary Aizawil

MANIPUR

Keibul Lamjao Park Bishnpur

Sirohi National Park E. Manipur

MEGHALAYA

Nangkhyliam Wildlife Sanctuary -

Siju Wildlife Sanctuary -

SIKKIM

Kanchenjunga National Park N. Sikkim

Famebunglho Wildlife Sanctuary E. Sikkim

Kyongnosla Quilon
 67
Singba Rhododendron Wildlife Sanctuary Yunuthong.

REGION OF RAJASTHAN, GUJARAT & MADHYA PRADESH RAJASTHAN

Desert National Park Jaisalmer

Keoladeo Ghana or Bharatpur National Park Bharatpur

Sariska National Park Alwar

Ranthambhor National Park Sawaimadhopur

Bhemsrod Garh Wildlife Sanctuary Chittorgarh

Darah Wildlife Sanctuary Kota, Bundi and Jalawar

Jaisamand Wildlife Sanctuary Udaipur

Jamva Ramgard Wildlife Sanctuary Kota

Kalla Devi Wildlife Sanctuary Sawaimdhopur

Khumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary Udaipur

 68
Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary Sirohi

Nahavgarh Wildlife Sanctuary Jaipur

National Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary Kota, Bundi

Phulwari Wildlife Sanctuary Udaipur

Ramgarh Wildlife Sanctuary Bundi

Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary Alwar

Shergarh Wildlife Sanctuary Kota

Sita Mata Wildlife Sanctuary Chittorgarh And Udaipur

Tal Chapper Wildlife Sanctuary Churu

Todgarh Wildlife Sanctuary Ajmer, Udaipur, Pali

Van Vihar Wildlife Sanctuary Dholpur

Swaimadhopur Wildlife Sanctuary Sawaimadhopur

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GUJRAT

Marine National Park

Jamnagar

Sasan Gir National Park

Junagarh

Velvadar National Park

Bhavangar

Vandana National Park Bulser

Barde Wildlife Sanctuary

Junagarh&

Jam

nagar

Dhorangadhra Wildlife Sanctuary

Mehesana

Dumkhal Wildlife Sanctuary Rajpipla

Gir Wildlife Sanctuary Junagarh

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Hingolgadh Wildlife Sanctuary Rajkot

Jessore Wildlife Sanctuary Banaskantha

Khi Jadaya Wildlife Sanctuary Jamnagar

Wild Ass Wildlife Sanctuary Rann of Kutch

Narayan Sarova Wildlife Sanctuary Kutch

Nal Sarova Wildlife Sanctuary Ahmedabad & Sundendra

Nagar

Ratan Mahal Wildlife Sanctuary Panchmahal

Sloth Bear Wildlife Sanctuary Bharuch

MADHYA PRADESH

Kanah National Park Mandla

Balaghat
 71
Bandhavgarh National Park Hahdol,

Jabalpur

Fossil National Park Mandla

Indravati National Park Bastar

Kanger Ghati National Park Baster

Madhav or Shivpur National Park Shivpuri

Panna National Park Panna, Chattarpur

Pench National Park Seoni

Satpura National Park Sidhi,

Sarguja

Satpura National Park

Hoshangabad

Varivchar or Van Vihar Bhopal

Kheoni Wildlife Sanctuary Dewas, Sehore

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Narisinghgarh Wildlife Sanctuary Rajgharh

Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary Mandsaur

Bori Wildlife Sanctuary Hoshangabad

Panchmarhi Wildlife Sanctuary

Hoshangabad

Dubri Wildlife Sanctuary Sidhi

Badalkhol Wildlife Sanctuary Rajgarh

Gomardah Wildlife Sanctuary Rajgarh

Ratanpani Wildlife Sanctuary Raisen

Singhori Wildlife Sanctuary Raisen

Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary Raipur

Sitanadi Wildlife Sanctuary Raipur

Naradehi Wildlife Sanctuary Sagar

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Achanakmar Wildlife Sanctuary Bilaspur

Pench Wildlife Sanctuary Seoni.

Chhindwara

Samarsot Wildlife Sanctuary Sarguja

National Gharial Wildlife Sanctuary Chattarpur

Panna

Son Gharial Wildlife Sanctuary Sidhi

Ghategaon Wildlife Sanctuary Gwalior

Palpur Wildlife Sanctuary Morena

Karera Wildlife Sanctuary (Great Indian Bustard) Shivpuri

Bagdera Wildlife Sanctuary Sidhi

Tamor Pingala Wildlife Sanctuary Sarguja

Bhairamgarh Wildlfie Sanctuary Bastar

Fensatallite Wildlfie Sanctuary Mandla

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Panpatha Wildlife Sanctuary Shahdol

Wild Buffalo Wildlife Sanctuary Baster

Sardarur Florican Wildlife Sanctuary Dhar

Sailana Fluorican Wildlife Sanctuary Ratlam

Udanti Wild Buffalo Wildlife Sanctuary Raipur

DECCAN TRIANGLE :

MAHARASHTRA

Nawegaon National Park Bhandara

Pench National Park Nagpur

Sanjay Gandhi National Park Chandrapur

Bor Wildlife Sanctuary Wardha,

Nagpur

Deulagaon Wildlife Sanctuary Ahmedadnagar

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Dhakna Wildlife Sanctuary Amravati

Great Indian Bustard Wildlife Sanctuary Solapur

Karnala Wildlife Sanctuary Ralgarh

Kariwal Wildlife Sanctuary Yeotmal Manded

Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary Bhandara

Radhangari Wildlife Sanctuary Kolhapur

Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary Thana

Yawal Wildlife Sanctuary Jalgaon

GOA

Bhagwan Mahavir National Park Goa

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Boindle Wildlife Sanctuary Goa

Cortiago Wildlife Sanctuary Goa

Mollen Wildlife Sanctuary Goa

Dr. Salim Ali Bir Sanctuary Goa

ANDHARA PRADESH

Connge Wildlife Sanctuary Godavari

Etumagaram Wildlife Sanctuary Warangal

Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary Adilabad

Kinenersani Wildlife Sanctuary Khamman

Kolleru Wildlife Sanctuary Godavari

Manjra Wildlife sanctuary Medak

Nagar Junasager Wildlife Sanctuary Mahabub

Nagar
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Neelapattu Wildlife Sanctuary Nellore

Pakhar Wildlife Sanctuary Warangal

Great Indian Bustared Wildlife Sanctuary Solapur

Karnala Wildlife Sanctuary Ralgarh

Kariwal Wildlife Sanctuary Yeotmal Manded

Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary Bhandara

Radhangari Wildlife Sanctuary Kolhapur

Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary Thana

Yawal Wildlife Sanctuary Jalgaon

Polkonda Wildlife Sanctuary East & West Godavari

Pocharam Wildlife Sanctuary Medak, Nizambad

Pranahita Wildlife Sanctuary Adilabad

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Pulicat Wildlife Sanctuary Nellore

Siwaram Wildlife Sanctuary Karimangar

SOUTHERN PENINSULA

KARNAKAKA

Bandipur National Park Mysore

Banner Ghatta National Park Banglore

Nagarhole National Park Kodagu , Mysore

Adichuncha Nagiri Wildlife Sanctuary Mysore

Aradithittu Wildlife Sanctuary Mysore

Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary Chikmangalur,

Shimoga
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KARNATAKA

Bilgiri Rangaswammy Wildlife Sanctuary Mysore

Black Buck Wildlife Sanctuary Dharwar

Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary Kodegu , North, Kanara

Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary Belgaum Dharwar

Ghatprabha Wildlife Sanctuary Belgaum

Melkota Temple Wildlife Sanctuary Mandya

Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary S. Kanara

Nagu Wildlife Sanctuary Mysore

Settihalli Wildlife Sanctuary Shimoga

Sharavathi Valley Wildlife Sanctuary Shimoga

Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary South Kanara

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Tungabhadra Wildlife Sanctuary Bellary, Raichum

TAMIL NADU/MADRAS

Guinday National Park Madras

Marine Gulf of

Mannar

Annamalai Wildlife Sanctuary Coimbatore

Kalaked Wildlife Sanctuary Tirunelivelly

Kari Killi Wildlife Sanctuary Chengal

Mudamalai Widlife Sanctuary Nilgiris

Mananthural Wildlife Sanctuary Tiruneliveli

Nilgiri Tha Wildlife Sanctuary Nilgiris

Point Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary Thanjavur

Pulicat Wildlife Samctuary Chegalpathi

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Vedanthangal Wildlife Sanctuary

Chegalanputtu

Vttangudi Wildlife Sanctuary

Ramanthapuram

Deer Park Wildlife Sanctuary Madras

Snake Park Wildlife Sanctuary Madras

KERLA

Eravikulam National Park Idukki

Periyar National Park Idukki

Silent Vally National Park Palghat

Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary Cannanore

Trichur Cimmeni Wildlife Sanctuary Trichur

Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary Idukki

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Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary Idukki

Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary Trivandrum

Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary Palghat

Poochi Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary Trichur

Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary Trivandrum

Shendurung Wildllife Sanctuary Quilion

Thattekkadu Wildlife Sanctuary Emakulami

Wynad Wildlife Sanctuary Wynad

ANDAMAN AND NICOBARISLANDS

Middle Button National Park Andaman

Mount Hamet National Park Andaman

North Hamet National Park Andaman

Sandle Peak National Park Andaman

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South Button National Park Andaman

Barron Island Wildlife Sanctuary Andaman

Crocodile Wildlife Sanctuary Andaman

Narcodile Wildlife Sanctuary Andaman

North Reef Island Wildlife Sanctuary Andaman

South Sentinel Wildlife Sanctuary Andaman

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CHAPTER – 6

Ecological Measures

Ecological Sub regions of India on the

basis of Wildlife.

Loss of Biodiversity.

Protection of Small animals.

Guidelines for Tourists to check inflow.

 85

ECOLOGICAL MEASURES

ECOLOGICAL SUB-REGIONS OF INDIA ON THE BASIS OF

WILDLIFE

On the basis of wildlife , whole India can be divided into seven well defined

regions. These are:-

The Great Mountain Zone Of Himalayas- This Zone includes East of Assam

Himalayas the Central or Nepal Himalayas, The Garhwal or the Western

Himalayas and the Punjab Kashmir or North west Himalays.

The Indo-Gangetic Plain- This Includes States of Punjab , Delhi, U.P. and Bihar.

The Eastern Region – This Regions Includes Assam , West Bengal, Nagaland,

Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura , and Orissa.

The Region of Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.

 86

The Deccan Triangle- This includes Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and

Northen Karnataka.

The Southern Peninsula - This region includes Southern Karnataka, Tamil Nadu

and Kerala.

Andaman and Nicobar Island.

LOSE OF BIODIVERSITY

A recent Environment Impact Assesment (EIA) report on the Narmada

Project (NSP), one of the Largest dams in the Narmada Valley development

project to be located in the Khandwa district of MP, claims that it could wipe out

many species of flora and fauna.

The Wildlife Institute of India (Wll), Dehradun who conducted the report

says, that 31 species with considerable enthnobotanical value but limited

distribution in the NSP area, will face local extinction because of habital changes

in the submergence zone and also in theadjacent residential forests that do not

face the direct threat of submergence. The report also points out that many of the

species which face submergence can not be compensated in the residual forest

areas either in terms of quantity or quality.

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The report claims that high quality wildlife barbital of 421.24 sq. km. Will be

lost due to impoundment by the NSP dam and related constructions like

hydroelectric generation units and canals. In some areas animals like chital,

sambar and nilgai will be further threatened by near absence of corridors

between the submerge zone and refuge areas in peripheral forests. Among

aquatic vertebrates, otters and turtles will be lost because of unsuitable refuge

habital and their inability to migrate . According to report, there will be irreversible

loss to the diversity of area in bird species and fish varieties will also decline due

to inundation of natural water bodies.

The report also points out yhat a decline in the socioeconomic status of the

people will have adverse long term consequences for an ever widening area of

the natural resource base.

Based on field surveys among the local population, the report fears

inadequate rehabilitation of the villagers, pointing out that it is impossible to

compensate for the natural resources lost.

The report has also recommended the following three protected areas in the

residual forests.

a) The Narbada National Park.

b) The Sumanya sanctuary and

c) Omkareshwar Sanctuary.
 88

All these will cover 758.88 sq.km. Of compact, contiguous and rich wildlife habital

with low human pressure.

AFTER ONE YEAR NOW (1999) IS IT 2000 ad OR 2000 B.C.

Today there is a hue and cry on “Save the Planet” and ‘Save the Environment”.

Alarge number of scientist, ecologists, environmentalists etc . Are also working

on various projects like saving trees, preventing pollution of water and air, soil

conservation and even wildlife conservation etc. With the aim of saving the planet

and the environment.

One of the most important parts of nature is animal. We can survive only if

animals survive. A number of projects have also been taken to save them. These

includes Project tiger, project elephant etc. But the samller animals are much

more in danger than the big animals which are also called endangered species.

We find people killing snskes , frogs, and lizards. Bats an owls are considered

symbols of evil. In fact, we always tend to forget the small animals as we look

upon most of them as slimy crestures. Unfortunately this tendancy hassled to so

many such animals being killed ruthlessly , because we do not know their actual

importance. By killing them we are bringing ourselves closer to calamity. They

are small , but their role in the eco-system is so important that they cannot be

ignored.
 89

For example, earth worms (whose enemies are birds ) are so important

that without their continued action in aerating or draining , pulling down leaves

and throwing up worm casts , the earth or at least uncultivated land, would soon

become cold, hard bound and void of fermentation and consequently sterile. The

earthworm swallows the soil and feeds on the rotting plant and animal plant. It

tham passes the soil out of its body, just below the ground surface . This soil is

rich in minerals brought from deeper down in the ground. The soil is thus

valuable nutrient for plants.

Children can promote an awarenss among people by telling small children

about the importance of small animals like frogs , snakes, lizards etc. The old

ones can avoid dissections of animals like frogs, rats, rabbits etc. Because they

can also be studied in other ways also.

In US and other countries children have voluntarily stepped out saying that

they would not dissect animals even if they have to lose their make in

examinations. As a result, dissection of frogs has been stopped in many

Universities. All animals have been created so that all of us could survive

together and interact with each other. If we realize this and play our roles

effectively, the world would be much pleasanter and healthier place to live.

GUIDELINES FOR TOURISTS TO CHECK INFLOW

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The burden of increasing number of wildlife tourists in India every year has

forced the union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MOEF) to prepare

guidelines to manage the tourist influx into the various national parks and

sanctuaries.

Of particular concern are the keoladeo National Park in Bharatpur, which is

visited by over 1 million visitors every year and Pariyar National Park , which is

swamped by more than 3 million tourists every year.

The guidelines being prepared include:

1) Restrictions on the numer of tourists allowed into the parks and

imposition of strict code of conduct.

2) MEF also proposes to protect core areas of the parks and

sanctuaries by barring the entry of tourists , and to ensure that fewer

tourists stay overnight.

3) To encourage day tripping . To locate facilities like restaurants and

shops , preferably outside the park.

4) To promote distinct areas of each protected area for tourism ,

preferably on the periphery of the park.

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The code of conduct for tourists include:

1) A ban testing and feeding animals.

2) Ban on carrying firearms, swimming in lakes or river and speeding .In

order to curb the movement of the numerous individual vehicles, use

of minibuses will be encouraged.

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CHAPTER – 7

Wildlife Research in India

Wildlife research in India.

Wildlife Education and Training.

 93

WILDLIFE RESEARCH IN INDIA

Wildlife research in India.

Research on various aspects of biology, ecology and management of problems

is basically conducted by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun, Bombay

Natural History Society, Bombay and Salim Ali Center for Ornithology and

Natural History, Bombay.

Wildlife institute of India (WII) covers various aspects of applied research

on Wildlife for different ecological and geographical regions of the country. Snow

leopard (Ladakh), Nilgiri(Tamil Nadu) , Grizzled giant squirrel (Tamil Nadu) ,

monitoring of reintroduced rhinoceros (Dudhwa,U.P) are the main studies

completed by the institute.

Under the Indo-US Rupees Fund Programme, the Ministry of forests has

been sponsoring a number of research programmes implemented by Bombay

Natural History Society.

The objective of the Salim Ali Centre for Orinthology and Natural History

(SACON) is to develop and conduct research as well as courses in all aspects of

ornithology and Natural History of other life forms.

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WILDLIFE EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun organized 9 month PG Diploma are

three months Certificate course on wildlife for protected area managers at the

professional and Field Technician level during for Middle Level Managers and

Technicians and 4 week course for 16 trinees from Zoos and Wildlife

Organization from different states.

IUCN has recognized wildlife Institute of India as a Regional Centre for

Wildlife training . WII has also been conducting short course for India Forest

Service Officers in order to provide a basic under standing of wildlife and

biodiversity conservation.

• Peacock is the National Bird of India.

• Tiger is the National Animal of India.

• Swamp Deer is the State animal of Madhya Pradesh.

• Doodh Raj is the state bird of Madhya Pradesh.

• The birth place of white tiger is shahdol district of Madhya

Pradesh.

• Leopard, the smaller and spotted cousin of tiger living in all

types of forests is more dreadful animal because it can live any

where and eats any thing from birds, small deer, reptiles,

monkeys, cattle and to even man.

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• Tiger bones are believed to be good for rheumatism.

• In India, the first Zoological Park was set up in Madras in 1855.

The second was set up at Trivendrum in 1857 and third in

Bombay in 1863.

• The ecosystems which are under threat of conversion, diversion

, and over exploitation are forests, grasslands, wetlands and

aquatic ecosystems all of which hold a variety of wild animal

populations.

• The rhinos gradually disappeared because of capturing and

killing and also due to clearing of their habitats for settlement,

cultivation and grazing.

• The Gaur is now extinct in Northen India.

• The wild buffalo Bulbalus is a huge animal of uncertain temper.

Tow largest concentrations of wild buffalo today are in

Kaziranga and manas Sanctuaries.

• In India nine different species of deer are found. The species of

deerfacing near extinctin is the brow-antlered der.

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• The Crocodiles have been around for around for about 300

million years. They are the biggest reptiles living today and are

more closely related to birds and dinosaurs than to lizards,

snakes or turtles.

• The Great-one-horned rhinoceros have been driven into a few

pockets of Nepal and eastern India because of dwindling

forests, where poachers ae hunting them to extinction.A variety

of other animals, like the horned owls, Himalayan back bears,

tigers snow, leopards are also suffering the same fate. They are

victims of global racket involving US$ 6 billion annually in wild

life products the second largestillegal trade after narcotics.

Combating this problem is an uphill task because it includes

dangerous encounters with poachers.

• The brackish water nourishing Bangladesh’s Sunderban

supports a refuge for rare species, but their drinking grounds

are getting saline and world’s largest mangrove forest

“Sunderbans” is facing serious damage. Royal Bengal tigers,

spotted deer , wild boars,crocodiles and monkeys have been

forced to move deep into the forests, away from their usual

feeding habital. The tops of trees are dying every year in the

6017 sw. km. sunderban’s area

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• For thousands of years, Spanish storks have been migrating to

Africal countries like Bengal and Ethiopia from Europe . Now

spain’s 22,000 white storks prefer to stay back during the

winters and feed on garbage dumps. This is radical change in

their habit. In the last 15 years, storks have started cutting their

migratory route shorter and shorter . The reason for this change

in behaviour is due to unbanisation and gradual disappearance

of traditional bird habitats such as forests and rivers. Now

instead of using trees, storksbuild their nests on church towers,

telephone poles or antennas. Of the 744 nests registered in

Madrid in 1918, 445 were build on human habitation. Garbage

dumps allow the birds changing their migratory habits. Even

black heated gulls are leaving their natural sea side habital for

inland dumps.

• India has 441 wildlife sanctuaries and 80 National Parks. But

there are 1336 threatened plant species. And on the threatened

animals list there are 53 mammqls , 69 birds (the fourth highest

threat rate in the world) , three amphibians and 22 invertebrates.

• India recently took an important step towards preventing cruelty

against animals when it banned the mandatory testing of

cosmetics and toiletries on live animals . India became the first

country in Asia to do so.

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• According to the latest red list of endangered species brought

out by World Conservation Union (WCU) , Mammals top the list

of animals facing extinction . The list suggests that 11% of birds

species are threatened with global extinction , while 25% of

mammals species face a similar fate.

• By measuring the thickness of forest canopy, scientists get a fair

idea about the species of animals and plants present there in .

Earlier, ecologists took canopy measurements from the ground

using a visual procedure, called Mac Arthur-Horn method.

Researchers at the University of Virginia (US) have proposed a

new techniques using a laser rader or lider , that makes the job

easier. Carried in a plane flying overhead, the solid state laser

fires infra red pulses at the forest canopy and sensors in its spot

reflections from each layer and from the ground . Providing 100

profiles per sec, the technique can collect data on forest

structure more quickly and cheaply.

• Recent reports by National and international Organization

predict doom for speciec such as the tiger , the Asian elephant

and the greater one horned rhino . illegal trade flourishes in tiger

skin and bones , rhino horn and ivory. At least one tiger is killed

every day. In 1995 alone , 88 pachyderms were poached . So

our strategies to protect our biodiversity need immediate

rethinking, as it maybe only a few years before some of these

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species disappear. What is required is a radical change in wild

life management strategies to make local people and their grass

root institution parthers in management of protected areas.

Experimants in parts of Africa , Canada and South America

have already proven the efficacy of such strategies . India

needs to move quickly in that direction before it is too late for

her endangered species.

• About 15,000 skins of various wild animals , worth crores of

rupees in the international market , have been sezed in a series

of raids in Baramula district of Jammu and Kashmir. The skins

included those of wild cats, jackals , rabbits and leopard cubs.

The animals were killed by poisoning and there were no bullet

marks on the skin.

• Asiatic lions in the Gir Sanctuary in Gujrat will be shifted to the

Kuno palpur Sanctuary in Morena district of Madhya Pradesh to

prevent their extinction. The decrease in the forest cover and

uncontrolled hunting of wild animals have led to their dwindling

numbers . The Kuno Palpur Sanctuary is being developed to

sustain the existing and the natural growth of lions. the lions will

be relocated to this protected area by the year 2001.

• Migratory birds coming to the Bhatkal lake area and Sultanpur

Birds Sanctuary are dying because of growing pollution, scarcity

 100
of water in the lakes and in hospital conditions. Even those birds

which have been migrating from Russia, Europe and some of

the Asian countries during winter and gradually shifting towards

other sanctuaries. Birds from these places have already started

deserting the Bhatkal lake in 1998, it became evident as a very

few birds from these places visited the lake. The Sultanpur

BirdsSanctuary is facing the similar situation . The water

pumped to fill thelake has been found to be saline. Because it is

difficult to survive for birds and fishes in such water , the

sanctuary could attract only few migratory birds this year.

• Insteadnof saving the endangered Tibetan , the Jammu and

Kashmir government looks determined to protect illegal

manufactures of shahtoosh shawls through its proposed wildlife

law. Shahtoosh is an exotic wool that is extracted from Chiru,

the Tibetan animal. People slaughter the animal before

extracting shahtoosh. Environmentslists from all over the world

are demanding strict measures so that the endangered animal

could be saved.

• Since the onset of winter, poaching has once again been on the

rise in the hills of Himachal Pradesh. In the last 5 years,

thousands of wild animals and birds are indiscriminately killed

by poachers. This is inspite of the fact that there is complete

ban on hunting in Himachal Pradesh. Moreover , there is no

 101
proper management of protected area, such as national parks

and sanctuaries, which play a significant role in the conservation

of our national heritage. There are two national parks and three

games reserves in the state besides many wild life sanctuaries ,

which are spread over 5940 sq. km . But in the last decade ,

there has been a drastic fall in the wild life population of the

state. Poachers can be seen hunting openly in reserve forests.

The reckless killing of animals has posed a serious threat to wild

life in Himachal Pradesh. Environments are of the opinion that

the Himalayan brown bear, pheasant, snow cock, monal

pheasant, snow leopard and snow cat are threatened species.

• Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nahru University (JNU) and the Delhi

authorities are planning to convert 160 hectares of campus area

into a national park . The JNU excutive council has also applied

to the forest department of the Delhi government to declare a

large section of the campus as reserve forest.

• The Railway board has issued instructions to all Zonal centers

that no wildlife species, except chicken , can be transported by

rail. According to sources , the move is intended to curb the

misuse of railways for illegal trafficking of endangered wildlife

species.
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• Tiger Sita, which created a world record by giving birth to 18

cub’s is reported to be missing from the Bandhavgarh National

Park in Madhya Preadesh.

• Speeding trains through froests continue to the cause of animal

deaths in Dudhwa tiger Reserve in Utter Pradesh. The reserve

is home to as 75 tigers and a variety of flora and fauna. In 1998,

the park lost one tigers , two fishing cats, one elephant and one

crocodile in train accidents. According to reserve authorities,

atleast two animals are lost each month due to train and road

traffic in the park. The Gonda- Barreilly railway line passers

through the park covering a distance of 27 km with scant regard

for the endangered species inhabitating the park, 6 passenger

trains and five goods trains pass through the forest at high

speed. Two major roads also pass through the park. This not

only leads accidents, but also fallows people to indulge in illegal

activities. Often the negligence of the travelers have also led to

forest fires.

• The West Bengal government has decided to convert the

Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary in North Bengal into a tiger

reserves in the state are Sunderbans and Buxa.

• The Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) in

Hyderabad will adopt cloning techniques to preserve

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endangered species like lions and tigers . A center comprising

scientifically designed enclosures will house lions and tigers. It

will be set up near the Nehru Zoological Park in Hyderabad. The

CCMB has been asked by the central Zoo Authority (CZO) to

find out the extent of genetic variation in lions and tiger , both in

the Zoos and in the wild.

• South Asian environmental experts and officials met in Nepal to

discuss ways for regional co- operation to save the endangered

tiger . Over 60 representatives from Bhutan, Nepal, India,

Burma and Bangladesh as well as woodldwide Fund for nature,

participated in Sauraha, 145 km south of Kathmandu.

Participants said they were seeking trans border co-operation to

save the tiger , which is already close to extinction.

• Palamu Tiger Reserve in the Deltanganj district of Bihar has

became heaven for smugglers trading in precious teak trees

worth Rs. 30 lakh are felled every month and smuggled out of

palamu to places like Delhi, Bokaro, Dhanbad , Calcutta and

Ranchi 349 trees were felled in 1997 and 10,006 trees were cat

in 1998.

• Aproject to develop a biosphere management programme for

the gulf of Manna biosphere reserve has been planned by M.S.

Swaminathan Reserve Foundation. The project will be aided by

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Global Environment Facility pand the United Nations

Development Programme. A world Resources Report for 1996

has warned that the Gulf of Mannar reserve, along with 5 others

stood at high risk of degradation. Twaler fishing and other

activities in the Gulf have caused extensive damage to the

reserve. There are six species threats to the reserve. There are

six species threats to the reserve.

a) Rapid industrialization.

b) Over exploitation and intensive trawling.

c) Proposal to build the sethusamudram canal.

d) Poaching of threatened species.

e) Unauthorized humans settlement, and

f) Proposed aquaculture.

The Mannar reserve is a group of 21 small island that cover about 10500 sw.

Km. In the Bay of Bengal with a coastal area of 100 Km. Ecologically, the

biosphere is a combination of three different eco-systems. These are:

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a) mangroves.

b) Seagrass, and

c) Coral reefs.

It supports over 3600 species of plants and animals including a few rare ones.

Following the death of two tigers in Lucknow, the Central Zoo Authority

(CZA), has alerted all zoos in the country to protect tigers and leopards against

Feline Pan Laukoenia, a highly contagious viral disease which affects only

members of the cat family. When the disease strikes. The cats stop enting, Suffer

from dehydration and high fever and eventually die. The first case was reported

from the Bhopal Zoo in March, 1997, when 4 tigers and 3 leopards died of the

same disease.
106