What is the issue in Masai Mara National Park?

Contiguous with the Serengeti National Park along the Kenya-Tanzania border, the Maasai Mara National Reserve in south-western Kenya is one of the best-known and most-visited in the African continent Sprawling across more than 1,500 sq. km, and lying in the Rift Valley, the regions's vegetation is varied from rolling grasslands and riverine forests to woodlands, swamps, and scrub. Teeming with wildlife, the Reserve is most noted for the Big Five - lion, cheetah, wild buffalo, rhinoceros, and wild elephant and for hosting the world's most spectacular show in the wild- the annual wildebeest migration. In a circuitous journey, more than a million wildebeest, along with thousands of zebras and gazelles cross the crocodile-filled Mara river and brave several other predators such as lions during the journey between Serengeti and this Reserve.

Wildlife

The birds of the Reserve are ostriches, grebes, pelicans, cormorants, darters, herons, egrets, bitterns, storks, ibises, spoonbills, ducks, geese, secretary birds. vultures, eagles, kites, harriers, hawks, falcons, kestrels, quails, buttonquails, francolins, guineafowls, rails, crakes, moorhens, cranes, bustards, jacanas, stilts, thickknees, coursers, plovers, lapwings, painted snipes, sandpipers, terns, pigeons, doves, parrots, cuckoos, coucals, owls, nightjars, swifts, mousebirds, trogons, kingfishers, bee-eaters, rollers, hoopoes, hornbills, barbets, tinkerbirds. honeyguides, woodpeckers, wrynecks, larks, swallows, and martins. Impalas, wildebeest, antelopes, gazelles, rhinoceroses, zebras, elephants, buffaloes, pangolins, mongooses, hyenas, leopards, lions, cheetahs, foxes, jackals, wild dogs, honey badgers, monkeys, baboons, fruit bats, hares, squirrels, porcupines, hippopotamuses, warthogs, and giraffes are the mammals one can spot here, in addition to a whole lot of reptiles and amphibians such as tortoises, terrapins, snakes, lizards, toads, and frogs.

Threats

Among the Reserve's threats and concerns are poaching for ivory and meat, encroachment, land used for agriculture, human-wildlife conflict, and forest fires. More importantly, tourism impacts the region in several ways. Tourism is an important part of the Reserve for the revenue it brings directly and indirectly. Tourists from developed nations visit the place and are keen to view wildlife as closely as possible. So tourist van operators drive very close to this animals causing them great distress. And continuous driving on these lands could affect the natural vegetation of the region the animals may be dependent on. However, that's not the only way in which tourism affects the region.

Before 2004, not even 10 tourist lodges existed in and around the Reserve, because there was a ban on new construction. However, that was removed in 2004, and gradually over the last 1.5 decades, around 200 such lodges have come up. As it is fencing and agriculture had affected the movement of animals, even interfering with the migration route of a few animals. With increasing numbers of lodges, and therefore humans, the movement of wild animals could be severely hindered.

The pandemic effect

Before last March, tourism was of great concern due to the sheer number of visitors to the Reserve and how it affected the place and its inhabitants. But the pandemic brought with it a peculiar problem- the lack of tourists. As mentioned earlier, tourists bring revenue to the region directly through safari visits and indirectly by buying products - such as handmade jewellery - from the villagers around the region. Without tourists, these people's livelihoods have been greatly affected. The larger fear is that without the earlier financial stability, gradually they "may stop protecting wildlife, resort to poaching to get by, or sell land".

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What is Sagarmatha National Park famous for?

Set up in 1976 as one of the earliest protected areas in Nepal, the Sagarmatha National Park (also known as Mount Everest National Park) is spread across an area of more than 1,100 sq km. Marked by majestic mountains, dramatic peaks, deep valleys, and pristine glaciers, the park is noted for its stunning natural beauty. And, one of those majestic mountains is Mount Everest, itself a major attraction of the park. The region is equally popular for its wide variety of flora and fauna. While birch, juniper, pine, fir, bamboo, and rhododendron are the flora predominantly covering the region, rare animal species such as snow leopards have made this place their home. The park was declared a UNESCO Heritage World Site in 1979 for its "Outstanding Universal Value". The sherpas-ethnic people native to the mountains of the region - have a vital role to play in the conservation of the area, by restricting hunting, etc. Equally helpful are indigenous natural resource management practices that are in place. However, degradation of the ecosystem due to firewood extraction, tourism, and development projects are causes of concern.

Wildlife

The national park is a suitable habitat for rare species such as snow leopards, red pandas, Himalayan tahrs, and musk deer in addition to black bears, monkeys, hares, foxes, and martens. Over 100 species of birds are said to be found in the region, and they include the Himalayan monal, blood pheasant, laughing thrush, sunbirds, and redstarts. Apart from these, the park is said to nurture several species of butterflies and other insects too.

Threats

According to the International Union for Conservation of Natures latest assessment cycle (2020), the conservation outlook for Sagarmatha is significant concern". It says the property is suffering from a suite of long-standing and growing threats related to tourism impact (uncontrolled development, pollution, waste management, energy demand, introduction of donkeys for transport and intrusive aircrafts) deforestation, unsustainable resource extraction, poaching and disruption to Sherpa social structures. Climate change has had its impact too, for instance, glacier melting. In addition, it is likely that rivers and other water sources in the region could be contaminated by effluent discharge, human waste, and garbage dumping Further, aspects such as quarrying and forest fire risks put pressure on an already fragile ecosystem.

Two results from the pandemic...

According to a paper published in June 2021, the lockdown in Nepal between March and July 2020 due to the corona virus pandemic had both positive and negative results. In many of the country's national parks, including Sagarmatha, it meant more freedom of movement for wildlife. But that came with a price - since lockdown also meant reduced patrolling, illegal injuring or killing of wildlife due to poaching spiked. The study also discovered "incidents of hunting, trespassing, unauthorized collection of non-timber forest products (NTFP), fishing, and collection of fuelwood “inside the protected areas spiked. The study also discovered "incidents of hunting, trespassing, unauthorized collection of non-timber forest products (NTFP), fishing, and collection of fuelwood” inside the protected areas.

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Why is Manas National Park famous for?

Creating a transnational conservation area, the Royal Manas National Park in southwestern Bhutan abuts the Manas National Park of the neighbouring Indian State of Assam. It was accorded wildlife sanctuary status way back in 1966, making it the oldest protected area in the country. As many as 27 years later, it was declared a National Park. Covering an area of more than 1,000 sq.km., the Park had been out of bounds to public for a long while. The region is fed by the Manas river, and is indicative of Bhutan's tropical and subtropical ecosystems. The Park hosts a stunning variety of plant and animal species, and this includes several that are threatened or endangered. In addition to a few hundred bird species, it is said to support more than 900 types of plants, including many with medicinal value.

Wildlife

The animals that one can spot in the region include Royal Bengal tiger. Asian elephant, greater one-horned rhinoceros, clouded leopard, Himalayan black bear, Gangetic dolphin, pangolin, and the endangered and rare golden langur. Among the birds that roam the area are ducks, geese, shelducks, pochards, teals, partridges, tragopans, pheasants, quails, grebes, pigeons, cranes, bitterns, doves, nighjars, swifts, doves, eagles, hornbills, babblers, thrushes, cuckoos, herons, egret cormorants, thickknees, stilts, plovers, lapwings, sandpipers, gulls, terns, vultures, owls, woodpeckers, beeeaters, kingfishers, parakeets, orioles, drongos, shrikes, flowerpeckers, weavers, munias, sparrows, finches, tits, buntings, prinias, warblers, bulbuls, flycatchers, and robins.

Threats

In 2017, Bhutan became the first (and the only) carbon-negative country in the world. The carbon dioxide produced by the country is less than what the tree / forest cover there can absorb. The country has been determined to ensure that the forest cover does not drop below 60 % at any given time. While this is great news for the wildlife in the region, the country and the park in are not without concerns. For instance, human activity such as selective logging, deforestation, hunting, and tourism have been increasing challenges for the place. Being a small country, it has managed to keep several threats at bay so far. However, as a country develops, human activity could only increase, leading to alteration of places that wildlife call home. There are also concerns that species such as the threatened clouded leopard could be affected in the long run due to such activity.

Good news

News reports published in 2018 said that the number of tigers at the Park grew from just 10 in 2010 to more than double- an impressive 22-within a decade. This is attributed to the conscious effort not just at Royal Manas but also at Manas National Park in neighbouring India. In fact, both the Parks registered increase in tiger numbers, and this is attributed to transboundary conservation.

While the tiger usually gets all the attention for being a top predator, it is also important to record other species in a region. Less than a decade ago, efforts were taken up to record the different types of cats present in Royal Manas National Park. The study "recorded six species of wild felids of which five are listed on the IUCN Red List". They are tiger, golden cat, marbled cat, leopard cat, clouded leopard, and common leopard. It was conducted over an area of 74 sq.km., and the sightings of felid species confirmed the region "as a biodiversity hot spot for this group".

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Where is the Bhitarkanika National park and what is it famous for?

The Bhitarkanika National Park is located in Odisha’s Kendrapara district which shares borders with famous Gahirmatha Beach and is surrounded by the Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary. The Bhitarkanika group of islands offer great beaches and exciting trails through the dense forests teeming with thrilling boat rides. Therefore, the park attracts tourists from all over the world. Planning a Bhitarkanika trip is thus recommended for tourists willing to make the most of their holidays.

Spread over an area of 672 square kilometers, the National Park consists of the Brahmani, Baitrani Delta, backwaters, estuaries, and creeks. This National park in Odisha boasts of the world’s second largest mangrove ecosystem. It is considered as one of the most impressive national parks in India. The park is home to more than 215 species of birds and is inhabited by the Giant salt-water Crocodiles and various other species like Water Monitor Lizard, King Cobra, and Indian Python.

In the year 1975, there were only 90 Crocodiles in this area. Now their count is 1,742. As hunting was strictly banned the number of deers also increased to about 5,000. This place has a distinction of housing 23 feet long crocodile. It also holds the Guinness World Record of owning a skeleton of 19.8 feet long estuarine crocodile. A museum and Hatchery has been developed at Dangmal to attract tourists.

Credit : Financial Express

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What is Wood Buffalo National Park known for?

Spread across more than 40,000 sq km along the boundary between Alberta and the Northwest Territories in Canada, the Wood Buffalo National Park covers large swathes of forests, wetlands, and prairies. The Peace-Athabasca Delta located within the Park is one of the world's largest freshwater inland river deltas. It attracts several thousand birds, in addition to many animal species. Canada's largest national park, this UNESCO World Heritage Site nurtures the world's largest population of wood bison, numbering a few thousands. This makes the population the largest free-roaming herd left in the world. And not just that. The Park is the last remaining natural nesting site for an endangered bird species - the whooping crane. Also, two of the wetlands within the region are wetlands of International Importance under the RAMSAR convention. The Park's large size and low concentration of humans have played a role in the protection of the ecosystem to a certain level, but it is said that the lack of political will to conserve it is of grave concern.

Wildlife

Though the Park is most noted for its population of wood bison and whooping crane, it nurtures a variety of birds and animals. The region is home to more than 40 species of animals, including black bear, wolf, moose, fox, beaver, lynx, marten, and snow-shoe hare. Among the several species of birds in the area are falcons, sandhill cranes, hawks, eagles, and owls. The place also falls in the migratory route of several thousand ducks and geese.

Threats

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the 'conservation outlook for this site has been assessed as "significant concern" in the latest assessment cycle (2020). Way back in 2016, UNESCO researchers had cautioned that industrial development around the region was progressing at a great speed without its impact being studied properly. Further, upstream projects, two dams, and a relatively new hydroelectric project have together threatened to weaken water flow in the delta. In addition, "oil and gas operations in the northern reaches of Alberta continue to draw large amounts of water to sustain their operations". With mining sanctions too joining the list, the pressure of development on the water resources increased, with concerns that it could affect both wildlife and the indigenous people of the eco-sensitive region. This also means threat to the wood bison and whooping crane populations.

Following this, UNESCO gave Canada a year "to develop a solution to stem the rapid deterioration of the park", and warned hte government that 'inaction would "constitute a case for recommending inscription of Wood Buffalo national park on the List of World Heritage in Danger". After this Canada was given a December 1, 2020 deadline for submitting "a progress report on conservation efforts" in the region, which the country missed. It sought an extension and submitted the report by 21 the same month, addressing "specific UNESCO concerns and 14 pages outline whether each of the 142 items in the action plan are completed, underway, not started or not due yet". Meanwhile, earlier this year reports said "Canada has pledged an extra $59.9 million" to save the place, though many conservationists and indigenous people are concerned and sceptical of the promise due to what they see as the government's lack of commitment to the cause.

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Assam gets 2 new national parks; total goes up to seven

National parks are said to be found in more than 100 countries around the world. They play an important role in any ecosystem, and are set up by a country's government to conserve the biodiversity and the natural environment of a region. The creation and the measures initiated for the upkeep of national parks could be indicative of a country's commitment towards the protection of its natural environment and its inhabitants. Australia has the highest number of national parks in the world - over 650! India has the distinction of being one of the very few countries in the world to have more than a hundred national parks. And, just recently it added two more to that list. Let's find out more about this.

Madhya Pradesh has the highest number of national parks among States - 10 (excluding the Ghughwa National Fossils Park). Among Union Territories, Andaman and Nicobar Islands tops the list with nine. The second place among States has been taken over by Assam now, with seven. As many as five of these were created in the 20th Century - Dibru-Saikhowa, Kaziranga, Manas, Nameri, and Rajiv Gandhi Orang. The other two - Raimona and Dihing Patkai National Parks - were formally notified this June.

Raimona was earlier a Reserve Forest (among the oldest in Assam), and is now expanded to 422 sq km. "bound by Phipsoo Wildlife Sanctuary of Bhutan, the Buxa Tiger Reserve of West Bengal and the state's own Manas National Park". The region is said to host several endangered species, including the tiger, and many species of birds and butterflies. Dehing Patkai was earlier a wildlife sanctuary. It is expanded to over 230 sq km, and is noted for being home to a wide variety of mammals.

While it is understandable that as the second largest State Madhya Pradesh has the highest number of national parks, Assam, one of the relatively small States, having seven of them is a pointer to its healthy natural environment.

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What are the threats in the Iguazu National Park in Argentina and the Iguazu National Park in Brazil?

Jointly covering an area of nearly 2,40,000 hectares in South America, the Iguazu National Park in Argentina and its sister park, the Iguacu National Park in Brazil, are regions centred around the spectacular Iguazu Falls. The falls is among the widest in the world, wider than the popular Niagara Falls of North America. The Parks contain remnants of highly endangered rainforests, and were set up in the 1930s to preserve not just the scenic beauty of the falls but also the vegetation and wildlife in and around the region. Huge clouds of spray continuously immerse the several river islands and the riverine forests around. This creates a very humid environment giving rise to fertile and thick vegetation that supports a variety of wildlife. In 1984, the Iguazu National Park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, while Iguacu received the recognition two years later.

Wildlife

The region boasts vegetation that is both rich and varied. The subtropical rainforest surrounding the falls is believed to nurture more than 1,000 species of plants from orchids, pine, and bamboo to palm and even moss. This makes it a perfect haven for wildlife, which is said to be as varied as the vegetation itself. In addition to more than 400 species of birds, the area is said to support over 75 mammal species and countless varieties of invertebrates. Among the mammals that can be spotted here are iguanas, tapirs, giant anteaters, howler monkeys, ocelots (cat species), and jaguars. It's also a spot to see caimans (crocodiles). The birds found in and around the area include swifts, swallows, parrots, herons, toucans, flycatchers, trogons, owls, falcons, kites, nighthawks, thrushes, shrikes, kingfishers, quails, and the near-threatened harpy eagles.

Threats

Changing landscapes due to a variety of reasons such as deforestation and development, tourism, agricultural encroachment, and poaching are among the threats in the region. But dominated as it is by water, the threats on this resource is of particular concern.

Water management: There are dams outside the parks that feed the waterfalls. However, the water flow to the waterfalls is controlled depending on the electricity requirement. For instance, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the water flow during weekends could be lower than ususal due to lower demand for electricity. This fluctuation could affect flora and fauna of the region.

Farmland run-off: On one side of the Iguacu National Park is the beginning of land parcels used for intense agriculture. The practices here involve the use of pollutants such as pesticide. The streams that run through these areas and flowing into the falls carry with them polluted sediments. In the long run, this could affect the plants and animals of the region.

And some good news!

As recently as 2008, only eight jaguars roamed the Brazil's Iguacu National Park.

That's quite a dramatic fall from about 400 in the 1990s near Brazil's border. The cats were pushed to the brink of extinction due to hunting and intense deforestation, resulting in the loss of the animal's habitat. And gradually after 2010, their numbers began increasing, thanks to steps such as setting up of camera traps initiated to tackle poaching. By 2018, the place was home to 28 cats, and the numbers are said to have increased by 2020. But there's a proposal to build a road that will cut the park in two. If this project is implemented, the road will pose a severe threat to the region's biodiversity, and will be a setback to the conservation efforts of the cat.

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What is special about Serengeti National Park?

Located on the border between the African countries of Kenya and Tanzania, the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania's Serengeti plain spans an area of nearly 15,000 sq.km. The grassland and woodland savannah of the region, interspersed with rivers, is home to several species of animals such as cheetah, wildebeest, and zebra, and the threatened black rhinoceros. Set up in 1951, the Park attracts tourists from across the globe throughout the year for not just its diverse wildlife but also for hosting one of the most significant land animal migrations. It is one of the largest and the most diverse places in the world to witness the coming together of a large number of predator and prey. The Serengeti National Park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site of "outstanding universal value in 1981.

Wildlife

In addition to carnivores such as lions, leopards, cheetahs, and crocodiles, and herbivores such as wildebeest, gazelles and zebras, one can spot wild dogs, topis, warthogs, antelopes, elephants, giraffes, African buffaloes, rhinoceroses, hippopotamuses, and baboons within the periphery of the Park. The Park also nurtures a few hundred species of both resident and visiting birds. They include ostriches, grebes, pelicans, cormorants, darters, bitterns, herons, egrets, storks, ibises, spoonbills, flamingoes, teals, ducks, geese, shovelers, pochards, vultures, harriers, eagles, hawks, kites, kestrels, falcons, quails, francolins, crakes, coots, moorhens, bustards, jacanas, snipes, sandpipers, plovers, terns, gulls, sandgrouses, doves, turacos, nightjars, swifts, kingfishers, bee-eaters, rollers, hoopoes, hornbills, barbets, woodpeckers, larks, swallows, martins, orioles, babblers, shrikes, robins, wheatears, warblers, flycatchers, pipits, weavers, starlings, and sunbirds.

Did you know?

  • Every year, more than 10 lakh wildebeest, along with thousands of other herbivores and ungulates such as zebra and gazelle, go on a 1,000-km circuitous journey between the Park in Tanzania and Kenya's Masai Mara Game Reserve. The migration sees the animals moving to greener pastures in Kenya during the dry season in Serengeti. Throughout the migration, several adults and newborns perish to predators such as crocodiles, lions, and cheetah, but much more survive to keep the world's most astounding spectacle alive.
  • The Park faces threats due to natural causes such as wildfires, and human-related issues such as excessive tourism, water management, poaching, etc. For instance, a recent study that had studied the region over a long period of time found that due to increasing human activity on the boundary, animals congregate increasingly in the core of the protected area. And this is not good news because such a concentration could lead to depletion of natural resources such as plant and water, and even lead to extreme drought.
  • While the large numbers of animals migrating to the region is fantastic news, monitoring something of this magnitude requires a lot of time and labour. Recently, a “research team testing the capacity of both citizen scientists and machine learning algorithms to help survey the annual wildebeest migration in Serengeti National Park in Tanzania found that both methods could produce accurate animal counts, a boon for park managers”.
  • African wild dogs disappeared from the Park around 1991-1992, and several reasons-from rabies and canine distemper diseases to encroachment of farming activity into their habitats have been attributed to the disappearance. Around 2012, a few packs were re-introduced to the region, and some of them even gave birth to young ones.

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What is the reason for the large reptile downfall in Komodo National park?

Situated in the central part of the Indonesian archipelago, the Komodo National Park spans an area of 2,00,000 hectares. A UNESCO World Heritage Site of Outstanding Universal Value, it is home to about 5000 Komodo dragons. As the only place in the world today with these lizards, the area has been of particular interest to both the scientific community and curious tourists. Once found in Australia too, these lizards are said to have thrived in their current home for millions of years now.

Wildlife

Though most noted for Komodo dragons, the park nurtures other wildlife too. Among the more than 70 species of birds spotted in the area are cockatoos, jungle fowl, kestrels, herons, thick-knees, doves, sunbirds, finches, drongos, Orioles, scrub fowl, and friarbirds. The waters around the boundary of the Park nurture several species of whales such as sperm whales, dolphins, sea turtles, and the endangered dugong also known as sea cow.

The “Jurassic Park” problem

Last October while several parts of the world were still grappling with COVID-19 and the destruction it left in its wake, a photo from the park went viral. What did it show? A Komodo dragon facing a truck. What was a truck doing in such an eco-sensitive region? This needs a bit of a history. In 2019, a controversial decision to close the Park was dropped after collective outrage. Soon after that came another piece of news. That the government would end mass tourism by imposing a heavily priced membership scheme to enter the park. “But around the same time they also unveiled plans for a mass tourist development on neighbouring Rinca Island, which is home to the second-largest population of Komodo dragons.” And this project has been dubbed “Jurassic park“, which is where Komodo dragon had an unexpected encounter with that truck. Concerned conservationists have raised questions over the need for such a project, worried that this move will ruin the natural habitat of the world’s largest lizard. A damaged natural environment will eventually affect its habitants too, meaning the Komodo dragons could be in peril if the project is completed. Though it has been said that the project has been stopped, media reports suggest that the project may not have been dropped but only paused for now.

Did you know?

  • The world’s largest and heaviest lizards, these reptiles can grow up to 10 feet, weigh more than £300 and live up to 30 years in the wild.
  • Going by their diet, they are hearty eaters –it is said that in one go, these giants can consume nearly 80% of their body weight. The carnivore’s diet includes everything from deer and pigs to water buffaloes and sometimes even smaller comes from its own species!
  • Poaching and human encroachment are only two of the reasons that could lead to a decline in the population of these lizards.
  • As with the most habitats the world over, climate change is unlikely to spare this region either. While resultant intense wildfires can directly alter the habitat of the Komodo dragon, storms threaten to cause extensive damage to corals and the reefs in the waters surrounding the archipelago.

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Where to find Africa’s largest national parks?



The animals of Africa, many of them belonging to species which are now rare, today live under special protection from the danger of being hunted into extinction.



These animals live in national parks, huge areas reserved for them in central and eastern Africa. With the aid of wildlife Fund, these parks have become great tourist attractions. Every year thousands of people come from all over the world to see the giraffes, elephants, lions, gazelles, rhinoceroses, hippopotamuses and reptiles which live in freedom in these reserves.



There are good tracks and smooth roads and visitors can drive for hundreds of kilometres through these national parks. Some of Africa’s most important reserves are in Kenya and Tanzania. The Serengeti National Part in northern Tanzania covers an area of 15,000 square kilometres and extends from Lake Victoria to Mount Kilimanjaro. It has the finest collection of plains animals in Africa and is especially famous for its lions.



 



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How is the habitat of Tadoba National Park?



Located in Maharashtra's Chandrapur district, Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve comprises Tadoba National Park and Andhari Wildlife Sanctuary. Maharashtra's oldest national park, Tadoba was created in 1955. Covering more than 600 sq.km., the area's topography supports diverse habitats, including open canopy grasslands, stony grasslands along small hillocks, semi-deciduous riparian forest, perennial and seasonal streams, wetlands, and agricultural lands. All these make the region ideal for several species of birds, animals and reptiles to call it their home. A study conducted a few years ago recorded the presence of over 250 species of birds, including five endemic to India and more than 15 categorised as "threatened” in the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List. The region also supports more than 70 species of butterflies.



Wildlife



Pochards, shovelers, teals, pintails, quails, francolins, grebes, pigeons, doves, nightjars, sandgrouses, swifts, cuckoos, malkohas, storks, herons, egrets, bitterns, cormorants, ibises, darters, stilts, lapwings, jacanas, terns, sandpipers, pratincoles, kites, eagles, harriers, vultures, buzzards, buttonquails, owls, owlets, hornbills, woodpeckers, barbets, parakeets, orioles, drongoes, fantails, shrikes, flowerpeckers, munias, swallows, martins, bulbuls, warblers, babblers, starlings, mynas and flycatchers are among the bird species found in the region. In addition to the keystone species, the Bengal tiger, the area is a habitat for mammals such as leopard, Indian wild dog, sloth bear, gaur, the Indian fox, rusty spotted cat, honey badger, small Indian civet and ungulates such as sambar, spotted deer, barking deer, nilgai and four-horned antelope. Reptiles from the area include marsh crocodiles, Indian python, common Indian monitor, terrapins, Indian star tortoise, Indian cobra and Russel’s viper.



Good news, but...



In 2019, a report released by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology, Environment and forests said that Tadoba witnessed two-fold increase – from 86,557 to 1.73 lakh - in tourist numbers between 2012-13 and 2017-18. This also meant an increase in revenue - Rs. 6.78 crore from Rs. 1.75 crore, a whopping 280 % increase. Such revenues are crucial for the upkeep of the region. Another comforting factor is that the Reserve was one of the few in the country that saw an increase in tiger numbers a few years ago. This too has been encouraging news for tourism since increased tiger numbers could translate to increased sighting, and in turn, more tourists. However, increase in tourists may not always be good news. Here's why.



Only a few months ago did the government propose to offer ecotourism in the Reserve's buffer zone to boost local economy. Since the zone includes more than 75 villages, the step aims to rope them in for conservation activities and sensitise them to human-animal conflict. With their knowledge of the region, the villagers could become drivers, guides, etc. While this is certainly encouraging, it is not without concerns. Among the activities planned for ecotourism include those such as adventure sports. Since such activities require experts, villagers and activists are worried that gradually private players could take over the region, leaving behind locals to suffer, defeating the very purpose it hoped to achieve.



 



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What is Rann of Kutch famous for?



The Wild Ass Sanctuary spans nearly 5,000 sq km. in Gujarat's Little Rann of Kutch. Home to the third largest population of these animals in the world, the area is believed to be nurturing at least a few thousands of these mammals. Usually moving in large groups, these animals can be spotted throughout the year in this region. Due to its proximity to the Rann of Kutch and the variety in the region's vegetation, the sanctuary hosts more than 30 species of rare and endangered animals, and over 90 species of invertebrates. In fact, the sanctuary also lies on the migratory route of several hundred birds that travel from as far as Europe, Russia and Egypt.



Wildlife



More than 350 species of birds can be spotted in the region, and these include ducks, geese, quails francolins, flamingoes, grebes, doves, pigeons, sandgrouses, nightjars, swifts, coucals, malkohas, cuckoos, koels, crakes, cranes, bustards, storks, pelicans, herons, egrets, ibises, cormorants, thick knees, plovers, lapwings, godwits, sandpipers, pratincoles, gulls, terns, kites, eagles, buzzards, vultures, owls, woodpeckers, bee-eaters, rollers, kingfishers, falcons, parakeets, orioles, drongos, shrikes, flowerpeckers, sunbirds, weavers, pipits, wagtails, buntings, larks, prinias, warblers, swallows, martins, bulbuls, starlings, flycatchers and wheatears. In addition to the wild ass, the place hosts several other animals, including chinkara, nilgai or blue bull, black buck, wild boar, Indian wolf, jackal, striped hyna, desert hare, desert cat, pangolin, porcupine, Indian fox, mongoose, and jungle cat.



There's good news...



In 2015, the census of the wild ass showed that the total number of these ungulates was a little short of 4.500. A similar exercise conducted in March 2020 showed that the Umber stood at a little over 6,000 - showing a spike of 30 % in just five years. This is particularly encouraging, considering the species had a worrying history. Due to the outbreak of diseases, the number of these mammals had fallen to a mere 700 back in the 1960s. The population today points to a successful and concerted conservation effort over decades. It also points to the need to be mindful of the continuing threats faced by the wild ass, found in the wild only in this part of the country.



... but threats persist



While a growing population is comforting to hear, the threats that these animals face remain a concern. Since the paths of these animals cross those of domestic livestock that herders take out for grazing, the chance of a disease outbreak and the animals contracting it are high. Further, water carrying pesticide and fertilizer from farmlands outside the sanctuary enter the region, with potential to harm animals that could drink the polluted water. The increasing number of salt pans and illegal mining in the region are additional threats to the sanctuary.



 



Picture Credit : Google


Why Ranthambore Tiger Reserve is popular?



Spanning more than 1,500 sq km. the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan comprises a national park of the same name and two sanctuaries - Sawai Mansingh and Keladevi Covered in grasslands and dense dry deciduous forests interspersed with rivulets and seasonal streams, small wonder it is home to over 200 species of birds and several reptiles, amphibians and mammals, with the tiger as its apex predator.



Wildlife



Francolins, quails, pochards, buttonquails, barbets, nightjars, cranes, sandgrouses, snipes, redshanks, sandpipers, jacanas, thickknees, stints, plovers, lapwings gulls, terns, buzzards, harriers, grebes, cormorants, bitterns, ibises, pelicans, storks, shrikes, minivets, drongos, flycatchers, thrushes, robins, bushchats, wheatears, mynas, starlings, tits, swallows, bulbuls, prinias, warblers, babblers, whitethroats, larks, sunbirds, wagtails, pipits, munias and buntings are found here. Tiger, leopard, jungle cat sloth bear wild boar, black buck, caracal jackal, fox, striped hyena mongoose,  Indian wolf, chinkara, chital, otter, honey badger, pangolin,  Asian palm civet, sambar, nilgai black- naped hare rhesus macaque and grey langur can be spotted here. Reptiles such as saltwater crocodile and mangrove monitor, and several species of snakes, including banded krait saw scaled viper and Indian cobra call the region home.



The big fight



The reserve is quite vast, spreading across more than 1,500 sq km. But this includes the more than 1,000 sq km of buffer 201, leaving the tigers with a little more than 500 sq km for use. However, since tigers are highly territorial and need a lot of room for themselves, Ranthambore faces an unusual problem - the problem of plenty. There are more than 70 tigers in the reserve, and each tiger is said to require about 10 sq km. forcing the big cats to fight for space. In the last few years, a few tigers have died in territorial fights. Not just that. When space becomes scarce, they venture out of their territory and into conflict - with humans. And most of these encounters do not end well for either. In the past a few tigers from Ranthambore have been relocated to other reserves such as Sariska. However, with the habitats of tigers shrinking, the tiger number is something to be watched closely.



The power of local knowledge



The forests of the reserve were earlier the hunting grounds of the kings. Today through villagers on the fringes the forests and its habitants are protected, says a media report Nearly 50 members of the Village Wildlife Volunteers programme not only protect and conserve the forests but also use their voice to rope in more people towards this cause. This has helped not just in the capture of poachers but also in keeping the forest department informed about the movement of tigers and the presence of other animals. Most invaluable is the knowledge of the villagers about local habitats and wildlife, which educates personnel in the department. For instance, the villagers helped discover "a breeding population of about 30 gharials, a critically endangered animal, in a river near Ranthambore”. They also assist researchers in the field. This story underscores how invaluable the role of locals in the protection of forest areas is.



 



Picture Credit : Google


Why Periyar Tiger Reserve is famous?



Spanning over 725 sq. km., the Periyar Tiger Reserve in Kerala is one of the rich biodiversity hotspots of the Western Ghats. Comprising a range of tropical evergreen and semi-evergreen forests, moist deciduous forests, grasslands and eucalyptus plantations, it is amply nourished by rivers such as the Periyar running through the region. The reserve is a green zone that's home to more than a 100 varieties each of grasses and orchids - perfect to welcome several species of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds and butterflies. The region also hosts a large number of Asiatic elephants, making it one of the most significant elephant reserves of the country.



Wildlife



Garganeys, little grebes, nightjars, swift, coucal, malkohas, crakes, bitterns, cormorants, snipes, sandpipers, harriers, hornbills, woodpeckers, barbets, bee-eaters, falcons, minivets, orioles, woodshrikes, shrikes, treepies, flowerpeckers, sunbirds, leaf birds, munias, pipits, wagtails, tits, larks, prinias, warblers, swallows, babblers, starlings, nuthatches, flycatchers, robins and thrushes are among the species of birds that can be seen here. In addition to the Royal Bengal tiger and the Asiatic elephant, one can spot mammals such as leopard, bison, sambar, barking deer, Indian wild dog, wild boar, Nilgiri marten, Nilgiri langur and otter. A variety of reptiles such as cobra, viper, krait, and Indian monitor lizard, and amphibians such as frogs and toads too are found in the region.



Cause for concern



report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India in 2019 A said that the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), an autonomous body that manages 1,248 temples including the Sabarimala Ayappa Temple, has been violating the Master Plan for Sabarimala for over a decade. This is affecting the ecology of the Periyar Tiger Reserve". The report on the implementation of Wildlife Protection Act in Kerala says that the "impact of Sabarimala pilgrimage ranked first in the list of 18 major threats identified by Periyar Tiger Reserve authorities in Tiger Conservation Plan". It added that due to the lack of drainage facilities, overflowing waste water and sewage was mixing with the rivers in the region. Further, electric lines had not been laid underground, and the existing "overhead cables without insulation" could pose a threat to wildlife species in the area.



Poachers to protectors



The Periyar Tiger Reserve is an example of an unusual success story. According to Mongabay, a conservation and environment news and features service, the story begins towards the end of the 20th Century, when a forest brigand operating near the reserve is captured. He led a 23-member gang of poachers and sandalwood smugglers. And was willing to give it all up if they were assured of a job with a steady income. However, back then there was no provision to include poachers and smugglers in forest management. Several discussions happened and a few years passed before Vidiyal Vanapathukappu Sangam was set up. It would be the country's first eco-development committee constituted solely of former poachers and sandalwood smugglers"". The group underwent training and was exposed to the need for conservation. It's been 17 years since. The members have helped crack at least "230 cases of poaching and smuggling". In addition to patrolling, they also double up as tourist guides and elephant safari providers. Most importantly, they have managed to educate their children - some are postgraduates today! The success of this model has been so encouraging that several other reserves and sanctuaries too have emulated it.



 



Picture Credit : Google


Why Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve is famous?



Spanning nearly 350 sq. km in Kerala, the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary is an integral part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. It is contiguous with the protected areas of Nagarhole and Bandipur of Karnataka on one side and Mudumalai of Tamil Nadu on another. Rich in biodiversity, the sanctuary is marked by moist deciduous forests, semi-evergreen forests and plantations of teak, eucalyptus. etc. The region teems with wildlife, including more than 200 species of birds, 40 species of mammals, over 30 types of amphibians, fishes, butterflies and dragonflies. This includes many endangered, threatened and rare species too. The perennial water resources in the sanctuary add to the abundance of wildlife that are dependent on them, especially in summer. The sanctuary is part of a tiger reserve and has one of the highest recorded populations of the Asiatic elephant.



 



Wildlife



Cormorants, herons, egrets, bitterns, storks, eagles, kites, vultures, buzzards, lapwings, jacanas, pigeons, doves, parakeets, cuckoos, owls, coucals, nightjars, swifts, bulbuls, minivets, shrikes, treepies, drongos, mynas, orioles, swallows, woodpeckers, barbets, hornbills, bee-eaters, kingfishers, babblers, bulbuls, flycatchers, warblers, thrushes, nuthatches, wagtails, flowerpeckers, sunbirds and munias can be spotted here. Asiatic elephant, tiger, leopard, common langur, four-horned antelope, mouse deer, sambar, barking deer, porcupine, mongoose, small Indian civet, chital, common giant flying squirrel, gaur, pangolin, hare, sloth bear, slender loris, wild boar, jungle cat, leopard cat and Indian flying fox are among the mammals found in the region.



Perils for Wayanad




  • Since plantation is dominant in the Wayanad region, so is the widespread use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Unfortunately, this has resulted in irreparable damage to the area's fragile ecosystem, resulting in toxic pollution of local water bodies, soil, air and groundwater. If the accounts of farmers in the region are anything to go by, the use of pesticides has led to the disappearing of wildlife prey such as foxes. Many farmers have said that foxes around the region have vanished.

  • Increasing human-wildlife conflicts have been a matter of great concern in Wayanad. Raiding elephants and tigers have threatened human settlements within the boundaries of the sanctuary. According to media reports, at least half-a-dozen human lives were lost to tiger attacks in eight months spanning 2018-2019. In addition, cattle - crucial for the farmers - too have been lost.

  • Worryingly, unlike the past. Wayanad seems to be prone to large scale landslides and landslips now. After the 2018 floods of Kerala, large parts of the areas deluged in Wayanad were cited as fragile, and a complete ban on mining, construction activities and use of land for non-forest purposes has been recommended.



 



Picture Credit : Google