Haryana: Wildlife and Ecotourism | HPSC Preparation: All subjects - HPSC (Haryana) PDF Download

Wildlife Conservation Strategies in Haryana State

• Haryana State, despite being deficient in natural forests, boasts rich biodiversity that is suitable for a variety of wildlife, especially local and migratory bird species. Haryana is home to approximately 500 out of nearly 1250 bird species recorded in the Indian subcontinent. Preserving wildlife in their natural habitat is crucial. 
• To conserve wildlife, the Wildlife Wing of the forest department in Haryana has adopted a two-pronged strategy: protection and awareness generation. The department is focusing on habitat protection and preventing poaching to achieve its goal of wildlife conservation. The in-situ and ex-situ conservation strategies are being employed to meet this objective. 
• The Haryana Forest Department has taken several measures for the conservation of wildlife in the state. To conserve wildlife within their natural habitat, the department has set up two National Parks, eight Wildlife Sanctuaries and two Conservation Reserves. In addition, ex-situ conservation efforts have been made, such as breeding of Red Jungle Fowl in Pinjore. 
• The Red Jungle Fowl in the Shiwaliks of Haryana is believed to be of pure breed, which has been verified by the Center for DNA/Fingerprinting and Diagnostic (CDFD) in Hyderabad. The department has also established a Vulture Conservation and Breeding Center in collaboration with the Royal Society for Protection of Birds (RSPB), Zoological Society of London (ZSL) United Kingdom and Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) near Pinjore to prevent the Gyps Vulture species from becoming extinct. 
• To create awareness about wildlife conservation, the department has established a deer park in Hisar and mini zoos in Bhiwani, Rohtak and Pipli. Furthermore, a Peacock & Chinkara Conservation and Breeding Centre has been set up in the Jhabua Reserve Forest in Rewari district.
• The government of Haryana manages various natural reserves and animal breeding centers through its Forests Department. These include 2 National Parks, 8 Wildlife Sanctuaries, 2 Wildlife Conservation Areas, 4 Animal & Bird Breeding Centers, 1 Deer park and 49 herbal parks in the state of Haryana in northern India.

National Parks of Haryana

Sultanpur National Park

• Sultanpur National Park, previously known as Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary, is situated in Sultanpur, 15 km from Gurgaon and 50 km from Delhi in India. 
• The park is home to various birds, including the common hoopoe, paddyfield pipit, purple sunbird, little cormorant, Indian cormorant, common spoonbill, gray francolin, black francolin, Indian roller, white-throated kingfisher, spotbill, painted stork, black-necked stork, white ibis, black-headed ibis, little egret, great egret, cattle egret, crested lark, red-vented bulbul, rose-ringed parakeet, red-wattled lapwing, shikra, Eurasian collared dove, red-collared dove, laughing dove, spotted owlet, rock pigeon, magpie robin, greater coucal, weaver bird, bank mynah, common mynah, and green bee-eater. 
• Every year, more than a hundred migratory bird species come to the sanctuary for feeding. During the winter season, a vast number of migratory birds can be observed, including Siberian crane, greater flamingo, ruff, black-winged stilt, common teal, common greenshank, northern pintail, yellow wagtail, white wagtail, northern shoveller, rosy pelican, spot-billed pelican, gadwall, wood sandpiper, spotted sandpiper, Eurasian wigeon, black-tailed godwit, spotted redshank, starling, bluethroat, and long-billed pipit. In the summer season, about 11 migratory bird species, including the Asian koel, black-crowned night heron, grey heron, Indian golden oriole, comb duck, blue-cheeked bee-eater, blue-tailed bee-eater, and cuckoos, visit the sanctuary. 
• Apart from the birds, the sanctuary is also home to animals like blue bull and black buck. The forest department has planted trees that are favored by birds, such as acacia nilotica, acacia tortilis, berberis, and neem.

Kalesar National Park

• Kalesar National Park, situated in the eastern district of Haryana called Yamunanagar, India, is a well-preserved region and located 150 km away from Chandigarh. This park is famous among tourists for its captivating views of leopards and various bird species.
• The wildlife in Kalesar protected area is diverse and well-suited to the various types of habitat present. Though their numbers are currently low, the animals are expected to increase to their full carrying capacity due to the park's strict protection measures. The Sambhar is a common herbivore found in forested areas on gentle slopes, often in groups of 2 to 4. Chital is also common and can be found in open grassy patches and fire lines, while barking deer prefer forested areas with plenty of ground cover. The Goral occupies a specialized niche on the rocky slopes at the top of the Shiwalik ridges.
• The Kalesar National Park houses a diverse range of wildlife species owing to its various habitats. Despite being low in numbers, the population of wild animals is expected to increase in a few years, thanks to the protection provided by park authorities. Among the herbivores, the Sambhar is commonly found in densely forested areas on gentle slopes in groups of 2 to 4. The Chital is another herbivore commonly seen in open grassy patches and fire lines, while the Barking deer thrives in areas with ample ground cover. The Goral, on the other hand, is specialized to occupy rocky slopes at the top of Shiwalik ridges. The park also hosts Rojh (Blue Bull) antelopes in the open areas along the Yamuna plain, while wild boars are fairly common and known for their crop-raiding habits. Elephants occasionally visit from Rajaji National Park, but their stay at Kalesar is usually brief. However, if there are sufficient waterholes available, they may stay longer.
• The Rhesus macaque is the most prevalent type of monkey in the park, and most of them were introduced from outside the area. Currently, their numbers are too high and they also consume the eggs of Red Jungle fowl, which may lead to a decrease in their population. These monkeys often attack villages and cause damage to crops. The leopard is the most significant carnivore in the Kalesar protected area, with around 20-22 present throughout. The tiger is also known to occasionally visit from Rajaji National Park, although it only stays for a few days. If the prey base increases, there is a possibility that it may permanently reside in the park.

Wildlife Sanctuaries of Haryana

Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary

• Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary and the nearby Bhindawas Bird Sanctuary are situated in Jhajjar district, around 15 km away from Jhajjar town.
• As per estimates, nearly 300 bird species can be found here, including common ones like egrets, storks, herons, ducks, geese, doves, babblers, bulbuls, barbets, ibises, hoopoes, kingfishers, cormorants, lapwings, drongos, and various types of eagles and kites that are easily visible.
• The sanctuary is an ideal spot to observe the Black Francolin, the state bird of Haryana, and other varieties like the Grey Francolin.
• If you are fortunate, you may be able to spot some unusual owl species such as the Eurasian Owl, in addition to other rare species such as the Yellow Footed Green Pigeon, Egyptian Vulture, or Steppe Eagles.

Nahar Wildlife Sanctuary

• The Nahar Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Rewari district of Haryana State, India, about 36.9 km from Rewari. It spans an area of 211.35 hectares and is situated 5 km away from Kosali on the Kosali-Mahendragarh road.
• The sanctuary is named after Nahar Village (also known as Nahad village) and was officially declared a Wildlife Sanctuary by the Forests Department, Government of Haryana on January 30th, 1987.

Chhilchhila Wildlife Sanctuary

• The Chhilchhila Wildlife Sanctuary, also known as Seonthi Reserve Forest, is situated in Kurukshetra district of Haryana, India. The sanctuary is located in a depression area, and it features a small lake created by an embankment. 
• It serves as a stopover and wintering place for birds, and it has recorded 57 species of both resident and migrant wetland birds belonging to 37 genera and 16 families between April 2009 and March 2012. Of these species, 33 are winter migrants, 2 are summer migrants, and 22 are resident species. 
• The sanctuary has been identified to have two Near Endangered species, namely the Oriental darter (Anhinga melanogaster) and the painted stork (Mycteria leucocephala).

Khaparwas Wildlife Sanctuary

• The Khaparwas Bird Sanctuary is located in Jhajjar district and covers an area of 82.70 hectares. It is situated about 80 kilometers to the west of Delhi. 
• On the other hand, the Khaparwas Wildlife Sanctuary is also located about 80 kilometers to the west of Delhi and is in close proximity to the Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary, attracting various migratory birds. 
• It is important to protect the area up to five kilometers from the boundary of the Khaparwas Wildlife Sanctuary as an Eco-sensitive Zone to safeguard the ecology and environment of the area.

Saraswati Wildlife Sanctuary

• The Saraswati Wildlife Sanctuary, also known as Seonsar Forest, is located in the Kaithal district of Haryana State in India and spans an area of 4,452.85 hectares.
• The Kalesar National Park, Morni Hills, and Saraswati Wildlife Sanctuary are ranked as the first, second, and third largest forests in Haryana, respectively. The Tribune reported on April 9, 2016, that Mahant and members of a dera of Nath yogis found ancient rectangular bricks from a 15-foot deep structure after an old banyan tree was uprooted in the sanctuary. 
• According to Rajendra Singh Rana, the curator of Kurukshetra's Srikrishna Museum, these bricks and structures appear to be older than 1500 years old and are likely from the Kushan period as the Sarasvati river used to flow here.
• Additionally, there is a 40-year-old water well made of small lakhauri bricks associated with the Mughal Empire era in the sanctuary.

Abubshahar Wildlife Sanctuary

• Abubshahar Wildlife Sanctuary, officially recognized by the Forests Department of the Government of Haryana, is located in the Sirsa district of the Indian state of Haryana. 
• The sanctuary is situated on the Dabwali-Sangariya road, 10 km away from Mandi Dabwali and covers an area of 11530.56 hectares. Its declaration as a Wildlife Sanctuary was made on January 30, 1987.

Khol Hi-Raitan Wildlife Sanctuary

• The Khol Hi-Raitan Wildlife Sanctuary, located in the Panchkula district of Haryana State, India, is in close proximity to the Bir Shikargah Wildlife Sanctuary, with only a 3 km aerial distance between them. 
• It is also just 0.5 km away from Panchkula on the Morni Road. The Khol Hi-Raitan Wildlife Sanctuary, Bir Shikargah Wildlife Sanctuary, and Kalesar National Park are situated in the Shivalik hills of Haryana and have similar species of wild animals that migrate from one sanctuary to another. 
• The species of wild animals include Indian leopard, Asiatic elephant, Chital (spotted deer), Sambar deer, Wild boar, Rhesus macaque, Gray langur, Striped hyena, Indian jackal, Jungle cat, Indian gray mongoose, Indian fox and Indian jackal.

Bir Shikargah Wildlife Sanctuary

• The Bir Shikargah Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Panchkula district of Haryana, India, covering an area of 767.30 hectares. Additionally, it houses the Pinjore Vulture Conservation and Breeding Centre.
• The Bir Shikargah Wildlife Sanctuary and Khol Hi-Raitan Wildlife Sanctuary are very close to each other with only a 3 km aerial distance between them. They are also located near the Kalesar National Park, all situated in the Shivalik hills of Haryana. The three sanctuaries have similar species of wild animals that migrate from one sanctuary to another. These animals include Indian leopard, Asiatic elephant, Chital (spotted deer), Sambar deer, Wild boar, Rhesus macaque, Gray langur, Striped hyena, Indian jackal, Jungle cat, Indian gray mongoose, Indian fox, and Indian jackal.

Eco Tourism in Haryana

• Haryana, which means 'The Abode of God,' is a place where the first hymns of the Aryans were sung and the oldest manuscripts were written. The state boasts numerous attractions, including century-old monuments, temples, gardens, fairs, and adventure tourism opportunities.
• Haryana has a diverse and rich biodiversity spread over various habitats, ranging from the Shivalik Hills in the northeast to the Aravalli Range in the south, and from the Yamuna-Ghaggar plain in the east to the semi-desert sandy plain in the southwest.
• The different habitats in Haryana support a variety of animal and plant species, ranging from thorny deciduous forests to pine trees. The fauna in the state includes Black Buck, Panther, Nilgai, Fox, Jackal, Deer, Wild dog, Parrots, Peacock, Pheasants, and more than 300 species of birds.
• The Forest Department has created eco-tourism spots at several locations in the state, including Thapli, Morni Hills, Kalesar, Adibadri, Chuharpur Herbal Park, and Ban Santor. These spots offer eco-lodges with Swiss cottage tents, watch towers, nature walks, herbal parks, outdoor camps, and other activities.
• The Department has adopted a new approach to tourism that involves preserving travel to natural areas to appreciate the cultural and natural history of the environment while taking care not to disturb the ecosystem's integrity. This approach also creates economic opportunities that make conservation and protection of natural resources advantageous to the local people.
• The Eco lodges in Haryana are designed with eco-friendly furniture, roof hangings made from bamboo and natural flora, which reflect the local systems and traditions. The tents and tree houses at Thapli, Morni, and Chucharpur are modern and equipped with all amenities. Additionally, they are surrounded by useful herbs and herbal gardens, water spots, and offer workshop and seminar facilities.
• The Nature Camps in Haryana provide a wholesome and pollution-free natural environment. Unlike luxury hotels, Eco lodges, tents, and tree huts offer a typical jungle ambiance and make you feel like you are in the lap of nature. They offer an exotic and natural view of several flora and fauna, which creates a unique and long-lasting sweet experience.
• The scenic beauty of Morni Hills is unparalleled. Exploring this tiny hill station and its natural surroundings makes for an extremely enjoyable Eco vacation. Kalesar, located on the virgin bank of Yamuna River, offers a diverse range of Eco-adventures. A visit to the National Park provides a complete feel of nature with flora and fauna. The Herbal Park Chuharpur is one of the most famous nature camps in North India, known for its medicinal plant base, which allows visitors to indulge in many eco and recreational activities like nature walks in the splendid herbal park, lake boating, yoga, and meetings in natural surroundings.
• The serene and dense forests of Ban Santor offer an amazing view of wildlife. Visitors can enjoy a picturesque view while sitting in the lap of nature in the heart of lush forests. The Forest Department is continually adding more recreational activities such as indoor and outdoor games, yoga, and Ayurveda centers.