Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary
Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area in the Gangetic plains of Uttar Pradesh, India. It was established in 1986 and covers 2,073 km2 (800 sq mi) across Meerut, Muzzafarnagar, Ghaziabad, Bijnor, Meerut and Amroha districts.[1][2]
| Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary | |
|---|---|
 | |
  | |
| Location | Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Nearest city | Meerut (35 km) & Delhi (96 km) |
| Coordinates | 29°10′N 78°06′E |
| Area | 2073 km2 |
| Established | 1986 |
Geography
Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary lies on the western bank of the Ganges River at an altitude of 130–150 m (430–490 ft). Tall wet grasslands dominate in low-lying areas and are inundated most of the year. Short wet grasslands are dry from winter to the onset of the monsoon.[1] Dry scrub grasslands dominate on elevated alluvial deposition. Swamps and marshes are present between elevated grounds and the sandy bed of the Ganges. A large part of the sanctuary is settled and under cultivation.[2] Sugarcane, rice, wheat, maize and cucurbits are the major cultivated crops.[3]
The sanctuary is named for the ancient city of Hastinapur, which lies on west bank of the Boodhi Ganga.
Wildlife
Fauna
Mammal species recorded in Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary include swamp deer, smooth-coated otter and Ganges river dolphin.[3]
Between 2009 and 2012, 494 gharials were released in the sanctuary.[1]
Among the 117 bird species recorded are short-toed snake eagle, Egyptian vulture white-eyed buzzard, black-shouldered kite, black kite, shikra, Western marsh harrier, spotted owlet, Indian grey hornbill, painted stork, Asian open-billed stork, white-necked stork, black ibis, Indian peafowl, Sarus crane, Demoiselle crane, Eurasian spoonbill, purple heron, pond heron, black-crowned night heron, cattle egret, large egret, median egret, little egret, little grebe, bar-headed goose, lesser whistling duck, comb duck, cotton teal, gadwall, mallard, spot-billed duck, Northern shoveller, ruddy shelduck, Northern pintail, garganey, common pochard, grey francolin, purple moorhen, common moorhen, white-breasted waterhen, common coot, black-winged stilt curlew sandpiper, pied avocet, pheasant-tailed jacana, bronze-winged jacana, rose-ringed parakeet, Indian roller, pied kingfisher, white-breasted kingfisher, green bee-eater, blue-tailed bee-eater, coppersmith barbet, hoopoe, rufous-backed shrike, red-vented bulbul, small pratincole.[2]
Location
By Air
The nearest airport is Delhi, which is around 110 km away.
By Rail
Nearest railhead is Meerut, which is 40 km from the sanctuary.
By Road
Hastinapur on National Highway No. 119 Delhi-Meerut-Pauri and is connected by road to all parts of the state.
Save Sanctuary Movement
The Hastinapur wildlife sanctuary has one third part of total sanctuary area of Uttar Pradesh. 25 years ago it was notified as wildlife sanctuary to protect ecology, biodiversity of Ganga basin and conserve global, national, regional, state and local environment. It is important that steps are taken by the government to develop this area in the same way as they have developed Corbett National Park or the Ranthambore Wildlife Sanctuary and invite investment for development of hotel and other tourism related infrastructure inside the sanctuary area to encourage tourism. This will give lot of employment opportunities to the local population at the same time develop the area for wildlife tourism.
Industrial activities are generating air, water and noise pollution in the sanctuary, stone crushers, sugar mill, organics, paper mill, chemical industries, cotton mill, fiber unit, automobiles, rubber industries, brick bhattas and others polluted units are violating the acts openly. Large numbers are decreasing of wildlife as swamp deer, the Ganges dolphin, skimmer, leopard, crocodile and other IUCN Red Listed species because natural habitat damaged of indigenous species and those hunting.
To make a proper sanctuary, Greenman Vijaypal Baghel an environmental activist is fighting against hunting, illegal encroaching, tree cutting, sand mining, biodiversity destroying, violating of Wildlife Protection Act and other related guidelines since 2001. Paryawaran Sachetak Samiti and WWF have organized many activities to protect Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary.
Dr. Ravindra Shukla is an advocate, environmentalist, and animal rights activist, working with Smt. Meneka Sanjay Gandhi's organisation PFA for ten years to protect the sanctuary. He had lodged many FIR against animal smugglers, mining mafias, and wildlife smugglers. He is fighting against corrupt officials.
See also
- Wild life Sanctuaries in Uttar Pradesh
References
- Yadav, S. K., Nawab, A. and Afifullah Khan, A. (2013). "Conserving the Critically Endangered Gharial Gavialis gangeticus in Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh: Promoting better coexistence for conservation". World Crocodile Conference. Proceedings of the 22nd Working Meeting of the IUCN-SSC Crocodile Specialist Group (PDF). Gland: IUCN Crocodile Specialist Group. pp. 78−82.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
- Khan, M.S., Aftab, A., Syed, Z., Nawab, A., Ilyas, O. and Khan, A. (2013). "Composition and conservation status of avian species at Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh, India". Journal of Threatened Taxa. 5 (12): 4174−4721. doi:10.11609/JoTT.o3419.4714-21.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
- Khan, M.S. & F. Abbasi (2015). "How the local community views wildlife conservation: a case of Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh, India". Journal of Threatened Taxa. 7 (2): 6934–6939. doi:10.11609/JoTT.o3943.6934-9.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)