Gir Lion Sanctuary roars with tourists, other Sanctuaries await visitors

3 National Parks, 22 Sanctuaries Neglected

Gir Forest National Park saw a record number of tourists’ roaring in after Famous Bollywood Actor Amitabh Bachhan exhorted people to visit the only abode of the Asiatic lion. However, a section of the Gujarat State Forest Department is not willing to join the euphoria triggered by Big B’s advertisement blitzkrieg.
The reason: They feel that the state’s three other national parks and 22 sanctuaries are still yearning for visitors. These include Marine National Park, home to breathtaking Corals, Kutch’s Wild Ass Sanctuary and Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary near Ahmadabad.
With Asiatic Lions grabbing the major chunk of attention, officials feel that other deserved wildlife abodes have been got a raw deal, in terms of budget and publicity. “Gujarat not only has Lions, but Leopards, Black Bucks, Wild Ass, Sloth Bears among others. However, when it comes to planning projects, the major focus is always the lions,” a top forest official told Times of India.
Marine National Park came into some limelight recently when an International Bird Watchers meet was held there. Officials note with dejection that Sanctuaries and National Parks other than Gir don’t get any importance while promoting tourism, leave alone budgetary allocation.
“The budgetary provision for lion conservation is itself so paltry, leave alone that for Sloth Bear, Black Buck arid Wild Ass,” they said. In the 2011-12 budgets, the state allocated Rs 12 crore for vigil and protection of the lions. Apart from that there was no provision for any other sanctuaries. An allocation of Rs. 60 lakh was for protection of wildlife in sanctuaries and national parks in scientific manner.

Courtesy:- Times of India, Ahmadabad, Gujarat, India

‘They are small but can easily outrun a jeep’

While the focus is on the Kathiwarl and Marwari horses, another species which is fighting its own battle for survival is the Indian Wild Ass (also referred to as Khur). Its range once extended from Western India, through Sindh and Baluchistan,
Afghanistan and south eastern Iran. Today, its last refuge lies in the Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary, Little Rann of Kutch and its surrounding areas of the Greater Rann of Kutch in Gujarat. Wild Ass however, is also seen in the districts of Surendranagar, Banaskantha, Mehsana, and other Kutch districts. Saline desert, Grassland in Arid Zone and Shrub land are its preferred homeland. Wild Ass, like the lion of Gir is an endangered species and all efforts are being made to preserve it.

During 1958-1960, the Wild Ass was a victim of a disease known as surra, caused by Trypanosome evansi and transmitted by flies, which caused dramatic decline of its population in India. In November and December 196l, the Wild Ass population was reduced to just 870 after to the out break of South African Horse Sickness. Besides disease, the Ass’s other threats include habitat degradation due to salt activities and encroachment. Conservation efforts since 1969 have helped boost the animal’s population to 4000.

“They are well protected now and the state government is putting lot of efforts to preserve this rare species and the number has now increased to 4000 in the last count last year,” said Muzahid Malik of Rann Raiders, “They may look small but they can run faster than Kathiwadi and Marwari horses,” he added

It is one of the fastest of Indian animals with speeds clocked at about 70-80 km/ph and can easily outrun a jeep.

SOME CHARACTERISTICS

* Stallions live either solitarily or in small groups of two sand threes while family herds remain large.
* Wild asses graze between dawn and dusk. The animal feeds on grass, leaves and fruits of plant, crop and saline vegetation.
* Mating season is in rainy season. The mare gives birth to one foal, the male foal weans away by 1-2 years of age, while the female continues to stay with the family herd.


Courtesy:- Times Of India, Monday, January 3, 2011.