National Chambal Sanctuary

Coordinates: 26°46′06″N 78°38′40″E / 26.7681981°N 78.6445791°E / 26.7681981; 78.6445791
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National Chambal Sanctuary
National Chambal Gharial Wildlife Sanctuary
Dhaulpur
Map showing the location of National Chambal Sanctuary
Map showing the location of National Chambal Sanctuary
Location in Madhya Pradesh, India
Map showing the location of National Chambal Sanctuary
Map showing the location of National Chambal Sanctuary
National Chambal Sanctuary (India)
LocationMadhya Pradesh, India
Nearest cityMorena 30 km (19 mi), Agra 70 km (43 mi), Etawah 50 km (31 mi)
Coordinates26°46′06″N 78°38′40″E / 26.7681981°N 78.6445791°E / 26.7681981; 78.6445791
Established1979
Governing bodyUttar Pradesh Forest Department[1]
Websitehttps://nationalchambalsanctuary.in/

National Chambal Sanctuary, also called the National Chambal Gharial Wildlife Sanctuary, is a 5,400 km2 (2,100 sq mi) tri-state

Endangered Ganges river dolphin. Located on the Chambal River near the tripoint of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, it was first declared in Madhya Pradesh in 1978, and now constitutes a long narrow eco-reserve co-administered by the three states. Within the sanctuary, the pristine Chambal River cuts through mazes of ravines and hills with many sandy beaches.[citation needed
]

It is part of the

Khathiar-Gir dry deciduous forests ecoregion.[2]

History

Administrative approval of the Government of India for the establishment of the National Chambal Sanctuary was conveyed in Order No. 17-74/77-FRY (WL) dated 30 September 1978. The Sanctuary has sanctuary status declared under Section 18(1) of the

Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. Since such a declaration is carried out by individual states for territory falling within their jurisdiction, there are three separate notifications covering the National Chambal Sanctuary - the Madhya Pradesh portion was gazetted in the Government of Madhya Pradesh Notice No. F.15/5/77-10(2) dated 20 December 1978, the Uttar Pradesh portion was gazetted in the Government of Uttar Pradesh Notice No. 7835/XIV-3-103-78 dated 29 January 1979 and the Rajasthan portion was gazetted in the Government of Rajasthan Notice No.F.11(12)Rev.8/78 dated 7 December 1979.[3]

The sanctuary is protected under India's Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. The sanctuary is administered by the Department of Forest under the Project Officer with headquarters at Morena, Madhya Pradesh.

Fauna

Gharial in Chambal River
Red-crowned roof turtle in the sanctuary
Ganges dolphin
An Indian skimmer on the Chambal river

The

three-striped roof turtle and crowned river turtle. Other reptiles who live here are: Indian flapshell turtle, soft shell turtle, Indian roofed turtle, Indian tent turtle and monitor lizard.[4]

Mammals of less concern which live here include:

Indian gazelle, northern palm squirrel, Indian crested porcupine, Indian hare, Indian flying fox and Indian long-eared hedgehog.[4]

The National Chambal Sanctuary is listed as an

fauna.[1]
great thick-knee, greater flamingo, darter, and brown boobook.[1]

Flora

Common plants in the sanctuary include khair (

Acacia catechu), palash (Butea monosperma), Indian elm tree (Holoptelea integrifolia), Indian plum (Ziziphus mauritiana) and grassy patches on both sides of the river.[citation needed
]

Conservation management

The sanctuary is protected under India's Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. The sanctuary is administered by the Department of Forest under the Project Officer with headquarter at Morena, Madhya Pradesh.

Parts of the sanctuary are threatened by extensive

lotic ecosystem
critical for Gharial breeding.

Gharial and turtles

On 27 December 2010, the Minister for Environment and Forests,

herpetologist Rom Whitaker.[7][8]

Visitor activities

There are many nature watching opportunities available for visitors to the National Chambal Sanctuary. The best opportunities for sighting and photography of gharial and dolphins can be had by hiring a boat with a driver and guide, available at several points along the river. A boat excursion will also offer many viewpoints for photography of water and shore birds and landscapes. Walking trails in the ravines and along the river offer opportunities for close observation of the wide variety of plants and animals in the sanctuary.[1]

There are public vehicle entry points to Chambal Sanctuary at Pinahat, Nandagon Ghat, Sehson and Bharch. Boating and visiting arrangements can be made with the help of the office of the Conservator of Forests, at Kota.[9]

Visitors may explore

Bakhat Singh
in 1664-1698. The fort is situated on the banks of the Chambal River and can be reached by bus, jeep or boat.

There are forest rest houses at Bah and Chakkar Nagar and Public Works Department inspection bungalows at Bah and Pinahat. There are several commercial hotels and eco lodges at Agra, Etawah and Bah.[1] The nearest airport is at Agra. The nearest railway station is at Agra. Agra and

Kanha National Park (Jabalpur) are all well serviced by the rail network from Agra.[9]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "National Chambal Sanctuary". Wildlife wing of the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department. Retrieved 28 December 2010.
  2. ^ "Khathiar-Gir Dry Deciduous Forests". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
  3. ^ Sale J.B. 1982. 2nd Draft. Management Plan For The National Chambal Sanctuary. First Five Year Period 1982/83 - 1986/87. Central Crocodile Breeding and Management Institute, Hyderabad.
  4. ^ a b "Reptiles & Mammals, Checklist of National Chambal Sanctuary". Wildlife wing of the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department. Retrieved 28 December 2010.
  5. ^ "IN122 National Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary (Agra/Etawah)". Sites - Important Bird Areas (IBAs). BirdLife International. Retrieved 29 December 2010.
  6. ^ "National Chambal Sanctuary". Birds of India. Kolkata Birds. Retrieved 29 December 2010.
  7. ^ Lenin, Janaki (27 December 2010). "New Government of India initiative for gharial conservation". Janaki Lenin's Facebook Notes. Madras Crocodile Bank, Chennai, India.
  8. ^ Oppilli, P. (27 December 2010). "A sanctuary Coming Up for Ghariyals". S & T, ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT. The Hindu, Chennai. Retrieved 27 December 2010.
  9. ^ a b "Maps of National Chambal Sanctuary". Wildlife wing of the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department. Retrieved 28 December 2010.

External links

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