Why in the News
The Supreme Court’s concern regarding the high number of visitors to Pandupol temple within the core area of Sariska Tiger Reserve, a panel constituted to find a solution.
About Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary
Sharp cliffs of hills and narrow valleys of the Aravallis dominate the landscape of Sariska, whose forests are dry and deciduous. Within the Sariska wildlife sanctuary there are the ruins of medieval temples of Garh-Rajor, belonging to the 10th and 11th centuries.
A 17th century castle on a sharp hilltop at Kankwari, provides a panoramic view of flying Egyptian vultures and eagles. The area was declared a sanctuary in 1955 and became a National Park in 1979.
Flora
The dominant tree in the forests is dhok (Anogeissus pendula). Other trees include the salar (Boswellia serrata), kadaya (Sterculia urens), dhak (Butea monosperma), gol (Lannea coromandelica), ber (Ziziphus mauritiana) and khair (Acacia catechu). Bargad (Ficus benghalensis), arjun (Terminalia arjuna), gugal (Commiphora wightii) or bamboo. Shrubs are numerous, such as kair (Capparis decidua), adusta (Adhatoda vesica) and jhar ber (Ziziphus nummularia).
Fauna
Apart from the Bengal tiger, the reserve harbours many wildlife species including sloth bear, Indian leopard, jungle cat, caracal, striped hyena, golden jackal, chital, sambar deer, nilgai, wild boar, small Indian civet, Javan mongoose, ruddy mongoose, honey badger, Rhesus macaque and Northern plains gray langur and Indian hare. Bird species present include grey partridge, white-throated kingfisher, Indian peafowl, bush quail, sandgrouse, treepie, golden-backed woodpecker, crested serpent eagle and the Indian eagle-owl. In 2003, 16 tigers lived in the reserve. In 2004, it was reported that no tigers were sighted in the reserve, and that no indirect evidence of tiger presence was found such as pug marks, scratch marks on trees, scats. The Rajasthan Forest Department explained that “the tigers had temporarily migrated outside the reserve and would be back after monsoon season”. Project Tiger staff backed this assumption. In January 2005, it was reported that there were no tigers left in Sariska.
Attractions and Features
- Ancient Temple: Pandupol Temple
- Architecture: Bhangarh Fort, Ajabgarh, Pratapgarh.
- Visible Lakes: Siliserh Lake, Jai-Samand Lake.
Topography and Vegetation
- Varied topography: grasslands, dry deciduous forests, rocks and rocky landscapes.
- Dominant tree species: Dhok trees cover about 90% of the area.
- Other plant species: Salar, Kadaya, Gol, Ber, Banyan, Gugal, Bamboo, Kair, Adusta, etc.
Frequently Asked Questions Sariska Tiger Reserve
A: The Supreme Court has expressed concern about the high number of visitors to the Pandupol temple located within the core area of Sariska Tiger Reserve. A panel has been constituted to find a solution to this issue.
A: The Pandupol temple is an ancient temple located within the core area of Sariska Tiger Reserve. Its presence has raised concerns due to the high number of visitors it attracts and its impact on the wildlife and habitat of the reserve.
A: The vegetation in Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary consists of dry and deciduous forests dominated by trees such as dhok (Anogeissus pendula), salar (Boswellia serrata), kadaya (Sterculia urens), dhak (Butea monosperma), gol (Lannea coromandelica), ber (Ziziphus mauritiana), and khair (Acacia catechu). Other tree species include bargad (Ficus benghalensis), arjun (Terminalia arjuna), gugal (Commiphora wightii), and bamboo. Various shrubs and plants are also found in the sanctuary.
A: Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary is home to several wildlife species, including the Bengal tiger, sloth bear, Indian leopard, jungle cat, caracal, striped hyena, golden jackal, chital, sambar deer, nilgai, wild boar, small Indian civet, Javan mongoose, ruddy mongoose, honey badger, Rhesus macaque, Northern plains gray langur, and Indian hare. It also supports a diverse bird population, including species like grey partridge, white-throated kingfisher, Indian peafowl, bush quail, sandgrouse, treepie, golden-backed woodpecker, crested serpent eagle, and Indian eagle-owl.
A: In 2004, it was reported that there were no tigers left in Sariska Tiger Reserve. The absence of tigers was attributed to temporary migration outside the reserve during the monsoon season. Efforts have been made to reintroduce tigers to the reserve since then.
Read also:- Udanti Sitanadi Tiger Reserve
