 Kunal Shrivatsa
Early Times Report
JAMMU, Jan 22: The natural environment of J&K has made it a perfect place for several rare wild and endangered species of plants and animals. People from round the globe come to visit the state to get a glimpse of different parks, wildlife sanctuaries and bird sanctuaries located here.
It is a known fact that J&K is considered as one of the few places in the world where one can witness a vast resource of bio-diversity and rich habitat for many wild and endangered species of plants and animals. The state has several national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and bird sanctuaries. Surinsar Mansar Wildlife Sanctuary is among one of them that has occupied a special place in the wildlife map of the world, however, for the last few years such a magnanimous shelter to wide variety of flora and fauna is facing official apathy.
Surinsar Mansar Wildlife Sanctuary is believed to be a safe abode for eight species of mammals including Barking Deer, Goral, Leopard and Wild Boars. The flora of the sanctuary is also supposed to comprise of the mixed scrub forest. Environmentalists say that one can easily find various plant species such as Acacia, Bahunia Variegate, Dalbergia Sissii, Ficus Religiosa, Mallotus Phillipensis and Pinus Gerardiana and to add to it the sanctuary nestles more than 15 rare species of birds such as Black Partridge, Blue Rock Pigeon, Green Pigeon, Grey Partridge, Peafowl, Red Jungle Fowl and Rufus Turtle Dove.
The Sanctuary, which starts from Athem, is just 42 kms away from Jammu and spreads over an area of 97.82 square km. Its altitude ranges between 430 to 611 metres above the sea level.
The pleasant atmosphere of the place has created a natural habitat for several wild and endangered species of plants and animals but over the years this bounty of nature is not getting desired attention from the concerned quarters due to which it is in complete shambles with little hope of reviving it to its pristine glory.
In other words, the Surinsar Mansar Wildlife Sanctuary is literally on papers as the vast area it possesses has become almost barren at various spots due to which the wild animals and birds are moving to other forest areas.
It is ironical that the Sanctuary, which is getting a mention of it only in the records of the Department of Wildlife Protection, is also comprised of two fresh water bodies in the form of Surinsar and Mansar lakes who acts as two corners of it. The so called wild life area is being categorized as a Sanctuary merely for the purpose of drawing huge funds annually that too by submitting fudged reports.
In reality, hardly any visible mark of the Sanctuary can be found on ground. All old records related to it have gone missing mysteriously without having any trace of them.
All that has remained now in the name of the Sanctuary is 10 kanals of patch on the western side of Mansar lake called as Rescue Pen which houses a few guard quarters and under-construction VIP hut nearby which is also waiting for its completion. |
