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| Conservation
History |
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Sariska
Tiger Reserve was created in 1978. The present area of the
Reserve is 866 sq. km.
In
the pre-independence period the forests within the Reserve
were a part of  the
erstwhile Alwar State and maintained as hunting preserve
for the royalty. After independence, these were first notified
as a reserve wherein it was unlawful to hunt, shoot, net,
trap, snare, capture or kill any kind of wild animals in
1955. The reserve was upgraded to a Sanctuary in 1958. Later
on, in view of the preservation of wild animals in a better
way few forest areas contiguous to the Sanctuary were also
incorporated.
The
primary notification to declare part of the core as National
Park was issued in 1982. Final notification is pending in
view of need of relocation of few villages from the Park.
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Top
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| Census |
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Species
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1991
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1992
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1993
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1995
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1997
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Offence cases
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Year
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Forest Offences
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Wildlife Offences
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1998-99
(Upto March, 1999) |
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Archeology |
Ancient
Kankwari Fort is situated in the middle of the Reserve.
Archaeological treasures, Neelkanth and Garh Rajor of 9th
and 10th century are ruins of Shiva and Jain temples, contemporary
of the world famous Khajuraho.
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Forest Types |
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Tropical
Dry Deciduous Forest
Tropical Thorn Forest
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Major
Flora
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Main
Species
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Dhok (Anogeissus pendula) is the dominant tree species.
covering over 90 per cent area of the forest. Boswellia
serreta and Lannea coromandelica grow at rocky patches.
Kattha (Acacia Catechu)and Bamboo are common in the valleys.
Some valleys support Palas (Butea monosperma)and Ber (Zizyphus
spp.) Besides these some noteworthy tree species are Arjun
(Terminalia arjuna), Gugal (Commiphora wightii), Kadaya
(Sterculia urens), Amla (Emblica officinalis), Bahera (Terminalia
bellerica).
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Major
Fauna
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Main
Species
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Tiger,
Leopard, Caracal, Rusty Spotted Cat, Jungle Cat, Four-horned
Antelope, Sambar, Spotted Deer, Wild Boar, Blue Bull, Jackal,
Hyena etc.
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Management |
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Practices,
Achievements and Shortfalls
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Due
to effective management, the forests of the Reserve have
responded positively. The satellite imageries conducted
by Survey of India have shown an increase of 133.19 per
cent in the density of forests. Correspondingly the wildlife
density has also been increased.
The
Reserve needs the conservation of soil and water on priority
basis. The management has created 46 ani-cuts, 30 earthen
stock dams during last five years. Large tracts of land
have been closed to raise trees and grasses in the buffer
zone to meet the need of fuel wood and fodder. It also helps
in deflecting the pressures of livestock on the core zone.
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Special Projects |
Diversion
of SJH-13 Ghata Bandrole to Kushalgarh.
New Initiatives
Rehabilitation
of Villages
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are several villages in the core of the Reserve. Relocation
of some of them would effectively help the wildlife as well
as villagers. Furthermore this would facilitate notification
of the National Park. The management is seriously pursuing
the matter.
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Eco-development
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Eco-restoration of degraded hills and pasture development
activities are being carried out in the peripheral area
to meet the fuel wood and fodder needs of local people.
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| Village Forest Protection Committees |
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Village forest protection committees are
functional in almost all the villages. The Committees play
an important role in forest protection.
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Education and Awareness
Camps
are organised for school children to educate them about environment.
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Protection Squads / Patrolling
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Wildlife protection flying squad is stationed at Sariska,
the headquarter of the Reserve. The Squad is readily available
to help the field staff in enforcement.
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Constraints
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| Human population |
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According to 1991 census, there were 10344
human beings in 24 villages in the core zone and 243667 human
beings in 246 villages in the buffer zone respectively. Human
population inside and around the Reserve is increasing rapidly
because of illiteracy.
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| Livestock population |
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According to 1994 census, there were 35396
cattle in the core zone and 142998 cattle in the buffer zone.
Cattle rearing is the main profession of the local people
and they depend on forest area for grazing. The population
of livestock is increasing steadily.
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| Encroachment |
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encroachment of 60 ha. has been recorded by the management.
The peripheral area of the reserve experiences problem of encroachment. |
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Grazing
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There
are many villages inside the Reserve and hundreds of villages
on the periphery. Cattle rearing is the main profession of
the local people. Thus, core as well as buffer zone experiences
heavy burden of grazing.
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Fire
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Forest
fires are common during summer when the grasses dry up.
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Poaching of fauna and flora
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Illegal
collection and felling of timber and fuel wood takes place
round the year. Poaching of wild animals is occasional. During
winter, certain tribal communities poach sambar, blue bull,
wild boar, spotted deer for meat.
Poaching of Fauna and Natural Death
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Year
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Sambar
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S. Deer
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Leopard
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Tiger
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Others
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1991-92
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1992-93
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1993-94
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1994-95
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1995-96
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1996-97
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1997-98
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19(Poaching)
7 (Accident) |
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1998-99
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11(Poaching)
2 (Accident) |
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| Criminals and Extremists |
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criminal or extremist gangs are reported in the Reserve. |
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Diseases
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F.M.D. is found in local cattle. There is a possibility
of spread of disease among the wild animals.
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Others
Spread of Prosopis juliflora
Prosopis
juliflora had been a favourite species in the past in Rajasthan
in  afforestation
activities. This was more so because of dire shortage of fuel
wood for the consumption in villages and cities. The Prosopis
juliflora plantations raised around the Reserve in the past
has started posing serious problem to the eco-systems of Sawai
Mansingh Sanctuary and Keladevi Sanctuary. It is encroaching
upon the natural flora. The spread of Prosopis juliflora is
being facilitated by goat and sheep. An estimated 100 sq.
km. of the Reserve is infested with P. Juliflora. The Prosopis
juliflora unfortunately was not tended in the past. It has
gained bushy growth devoid of thick stem, therefore, it has
not helped in reducing the pressure on forest where the demand
is for good fuel wood or small timber for agricultural implements.
The area covered by Prosopis juliflora is likely to double
in the next 10 years.
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Control of the Buffer
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The Buffer zone is under the direct control of Field Director,
Project Tiger.
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Conflicts
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Man-Animal
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Due to availability of sufficient prey base
in the Reserve, man-animal conflict does not exist.
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Man-Forest
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As a result of increased population and biotic pressure
the forest areas have been degraded particularly on the
fringes.
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Action
Points
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- The
two State Highways passing through the heart of the Sariska
National Park are the most disturbing features in the
free movement of wild animals. Therefore Sariska-Kalighati-Tehla
road should be immediately closed and Alwar-Sariska-Thanagazi
Road should be diverted from Kushalgarh to pass from Talvraksh-Narainpur-Gahtabandrol
and connected to Shahpura.
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It is important to shift the villages from the National
Park, which have been paid compensation and alternate
land allotted. This would be possible only with the strong
political will.
- The
inquiry into the rights of the villagers residing within
the National Park was started by the District Collector
of Alwar with the issue of the notification in this regard
in 1975 This inquiry is still pending! This needs to be
geared up as the final notification can only be issued
when this procedure is complete. The delay is highly damaging.
- Declaration
of the Sariska Reserve Forest, as Reserve Forest under
Rajasthan Forest Act, 1953 is the foremost requirement,
as the court of laws do not give credence to the Reserved
areas declared during the erstwhile State of Alwar.
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changing
with the change in season. The terrain is undulating plateau
lands and wide valleys.