Abandoned Cattle Overrun Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary

Some call it Keoladeo National Park, while others call it Ghana National Park; the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, a World Heritage Site, is the ideal habitat for thousands of birds from all over the world. It’s a notable Avifauna Sanctuary in Bharatpur, Rajasthan, that hosts hundreds of birds, especially during the winter season to find migrating species. Surprisingly, at least 230 bird species have made this sanctuary their preferred home, and it is the most ideal and protected zone for them. The Bharatpur Sanctuary is home to several species of Sambar, Chital, Nilgai, and Boar, as well as indigenous and migratory water birds such as the Siberian Crane. During the hibernal season, it is a popular tourist destination for most ornithologists.

Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary 

Bharatpur Sanctuary is one of India’s oldest wildlife reserves, established 250 years ago and named after the Keoladeo (Shiva) temple within its bounds. Previously, in 1850, the park was a traditional hunting spot for the Maharajas of Bharatpur. It was customary to shoot a large number of ducks in the reserve’s lake in honour of the British viceroys. Lord Linlithgrow, the then-Governor General of India, slaughtered over 4273 birds, including mallards and teals, in 1938. After independence, royal princes were permitted to shoot here, but in 1982, all such activities were outlawed, resulting in conflicts between local farmers and Gujjar people and the government. In December 1985, it was designated as a World Heritage Site.

The park is also known as Ghana National Park because the word “Ghana” means “dense,” referring to the dense forest that encompasses the whole Bharatpur area.

Wildlife in Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary

The diverse bird species counts are the main draws for tourists in Bharatpur. During the winter, many birds travel via faraway locations such as Siberia and Central Asia. Cranes, Pelicans, Geese, Ducks, Eagles, Hawks, Shanks, Stints, Wagtails, Warblers, Wheatears, Flycatchers, Buntings, Larks, and Pipits are among the migratory birds of Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary.

The refuge also contains significant populations of Sambal, Chital, Nilgai, and Boar.

Flora

Because the forest in Bahratpur is semi-arid with extensive vegetation, the sanctuary is known as a ‘Ghana’-thicket. It is primarily a dry deciduous forest, interspersed with dry grassland in areas where the forest has been damaged. In addition, the forest is becoming overgrown with medium-sized trees and plants.

The forest’s north-east area is dominated by kalam or kadam (Mitragyna parvifolia), jamun (Syzygium cumini), and babul (Acacia nilotica). The open woods is largely babul, with a few Kandi (Prosopis cineraria) and Ber trees thrown in for good measure (Zizyphus).

The open woods is mostly babul, with a little kandi and ber thrown in for good measure. Ber and kair dominate the scrublands (Capparis decidua). Piloo (Salvadora oleoides and Salvadora persica) are the only woody plants found in salty soil locations. The aquatic vegetation is abundant and serves as an important feeding source for waterfowl.

The scrublands are densely forested with Ber and Kair, and the soils are mostly alluvial, with occasional clays generated by periodic torrents. The average annual precipitation in the Bharatpur zone is 662mm, with rain falling on 36 days per year.

Fauna

In Bharatpur, macroinvertebrates such as worms, insects, and mollusks can be found in abundance, which are primarily found in aquatic marine environments. These insects are popular feeds for birds and fish in the marine realm, and they provide a vital link in the food chain as well as good ecological control. Land insects are abundant and have a good impact on land bird nesting.

The Bharatpur Sanctuary is essentially a bird paradise, with around 370 bird species. Because of its strategic location to attract migratory waterfowl in the Indian subcontinent before dispersing to various places, this sanctuary is a suitable host for numerous bird species. Furthermore, the marsh serves as a wintering habitat for large flocks of ducks. It is India’s only wintering area for the Critically Endangered Siberian Crane.

Conclusion 

We conclude that the Keoladeo National Park, formerly known as the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, is regarded as one of the world’s most important bird breeding and feeding places. It began as a royal hunting reserve in the 1850s and served as a game reserve for Maharajas and British.