Rajparian Wildlife Sanctuary

Rajparian Wildlife Sanctuary
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
Location Jammu and Kashmir, India
Area 20 km2
Established 1981 [1]

Rajparian Wildlife Sanctuary or Daksum Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Anantnag district of Kashmir, 85 kilometers south of Srinagar. It spreads over an area of 20 km2.[2] This area was protected as a game reserve for hangul during the Maharaja’s period, prior to 1948. In 1981, it was upgraded to the Rajparian Wildlife Sanctuary.[1]

Flora and fauna

The vegetation types present in the Rajparian Wildlife Sanctuary include dense coniferous forests and sub-alpine pastures. In dense coniferous forests, kail pine, spruce, fir, birch, deodar and juniper trees are predominant.

The Rajparian Wildlife Sanctuary is abode to many species of animals including the Himalayan black bear,[3] hangul,[1] and musk deer.[4] A number of species of wild birds are also found in the sanctuary.

Disturbance

In 1970, the Government of Kashmir constructed a sheep breeding farm on 1300 hectares of prime wintering area of the now critically endangered hangul. This sheep breeding farm is believed to have had an adverse effect on the movement of hangul in this area.[1] Besides, the sanctuary has also been disturbed due to excessive grazing by the livestock of non-local Bakarwals.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "HUNT FOR HANGUL" (PDF). wti.org.in. Wildlife Trust of India. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  2. "WILDLIFE AREAS OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR" (PDF). J&K Forest Department. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  3. "Asiatic Black Bear - Human Conflicts around Dachigam National Park, Kashmir" (PDF). indiaenvironmentportal.org.in. Wildlife Institute of India. July 2009. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  4. Mishra, S. (2004). Tourism Management: The Socio-Economic and Ecological Perspective. Universities Press. p. 81. ISBN 9788173714641.
  5. Shah, Imtiyaz (19 June 2013). "Duksum Wildlife Sanctuary on the Verge of Extinction". kashmirhorizon.com. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
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