m.phil thesis
TRANSCRIPT
M.PHIL. THESIS
WILD LIFEAND
NATURE CONSERVATION
Course : M.Phil. (Environmental Science)Name : Uttam Panda. M.Sc. (Eco & Evn)Roll No : M.Phil/247/ES/2008J
Thesis Submitted toTHE GLOBAL OPEN
UNIVERSITY
NAGALAND
Table of Contents
Page No
CHAPTER NO. 1 Introduction3
1.1 Introduction.1.2 Importance of Wildlife to man.1.3 Methods of Wildlife Conservation.
CHAPTER NO. 2 Depletion of wildlife 72.1 Effects of Wildlife Depletion.2.2 Reasons for Wildlife Conservation.
CHAPTER NO. 3 Wildlife Conservation 113.1 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 324.1 Endangered Species.4.2 Protected Wildlife of India.4.3 Biosphere Reserve Programmed.
CHAPTER NO. 5 Some Indian Sanctuaries 40
& National Parks5.1 Indian Sanctuaries and National Park5.2 Location of National Parks and Sanctuaries
CHAPTER NO. 6 Ecological Measures 776.1 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 India84
7.1 Wildlife research in India.7.2 Wildlife Education and Training.
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CHAPTER – 1
Introduction
Introduction.
Importance of Wildlife to man.
Methods of Wildlife Conservation.
3
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
deer (barasingha) , and dancing deer (sambhar).The typical wild indian bird
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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
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DEPLETION OF WILDLIFE
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
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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
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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 .
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3. To advise the Govt. on policy regarding export of living
animals , trophies , skins, furs, feathers and other products
of wildlife.
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.
32
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.
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,
33
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.
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.
34
(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..
CHAPTER – 4
Endangered Species in India
Endangered Species.
35
Protected Wildlife of India.
Biosphere Reserve Programmed.
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.
36
(c) Changes of being bounded or physical injury.
(d) Pressure on highly specified habital ., native environment etc.
ENDANGRED SPECIES
SPECIES LOCATION
Asian Lions Gir (Gujarat)
Asiatic buffalo North India
Asiatic leopard Pakistan
37
Dear Meghalaya, Kashmir
andNepal
Elephant Assam, Ceylon and South
India
Frog Island of Indian Oceans
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.
38
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,
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.
39
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.
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,
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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
(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.
41
d) To provide opportunity for education and training.
e) To promote appropriate sustainable managements of
the living sources.
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.
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f) Burman Monsoon forest
g) Laccadive Islands.
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.
43
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.
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)
44
CHAPTER – 5
Some Indian Sanctuaries & National
Parks
Indian Sanctuaries and National Park
Location of National Parks and
Sanctuaries
45
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.
46
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
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
47
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.
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?
48
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 .
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 .
49
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 .
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.
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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 , 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
51
includes wild animals like wild board , sambhar , nilgai , leopard , hyena , gaur
, tiger , and sloth bear etc .
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.
52
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
53
plantation of better and nourishing fodder
grasses and trees.
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
54
Kishwar National Park Kishwar
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
55
Daranghati Wildlife Sanctuary Shimla
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
56
Naina Wildlife Sanctuary Bilaspur
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
57
Tirthan Wildlife Sanctuary Kullu
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
58
Corbet National Park Nainital
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
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Motichur Wildlife Sanctuary Dehradum
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
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Karimpur Wildlife Sanctuary Rohtas
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
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Gorumara Wildlife Sanctuary Jalapaiguri
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
62
Kaziranga National Park Sibsagar
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
63
Pulit Badze Kohima
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
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Nandan Kanan Wildlife Sanctuary Puri
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.
65
MIZORAM
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
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Kyongnosla Quilon
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
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Khumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary Udaipur
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&
Jamnagar
Dhorangadhra Wildlife Sanctuary
Mehesana
Dumkhal Wildlife Sanctuary Rajpipla
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Gir Wildlife Sanctuary Junagarh
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
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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
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Fensatallite Wildlfie Sanctuary Mandla
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
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Deulagaon Wildlife Sanctuary Ahmedadnagar
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
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Nagar Junasager Wildlife Sanctuary Mahabub
Nagar
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
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Pranahita Wildlife Sanctuary Adilabad
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
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Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary South Kanara
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
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Pulicat Wildlife Samctuary Chegalpathi
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
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Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary Idukki
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
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Sandle Peak National Park Andaman
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.
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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.
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The Region of Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.
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.
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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
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are small , but their role in the eco-system is so important that they cannot be
ignored.
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.
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GUIDELINES FOR TOURISTS TO CHECK INFLOW
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.
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4) To promote distinct areas of each protected area for tourism ,
preferably on the periphery of the park.
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.
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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.
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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.
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.
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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.
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.
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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.
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
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“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
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.
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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.
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.
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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
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
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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
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
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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
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.
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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.
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.
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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
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
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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
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
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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:
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.
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