A home for panthers

Rajasthan proposes a dedicated reserve for panthers in Pali district to check their depleting numbers

Bera,a sleepy village in the Pali district about 140 km from Jodhpur,doesnt get too many visitors. But for those who do drop by,theres a lot to see. The tour guide promises panther sightings and a peaceful getaway from the hustle and bustle of the tourist destinations of Rajasthan.

Tapping its potential of a perfect retreat for wildlife enthusiasts,the state government has identified Sumerpur,another site in Pali district,to be notified as a panther conservation reserve. The area,right next to the Kumbhalgarh sanctuary,with its thriving panther population 20 to 30 in 650 hectares will soon figure among the states wildlife destinations.

Many pockets in the Pali district,such as Bera,Kameshwar hill,area around Velar village,Bhubhutia Mahadeo,Ludada hill,Perwa Bisalpur and Sena are not part of the Kumbhalgarh sanctuary but support a sizeable population of leopards,also called panthers. Eleven villages have been identified for in situ conservation of panthers to protect their depleting numbers.

Rajasthan tourism and environment and forest minister Bina Kak said,While tigers hog all the attention,the depleting population of panthers has been neglected. Therefore,before it is too late,we have proposed to come up with a dedicated reserve for panthers in Pali district near the Jawai Dam. The final notification will ensure that there is a system in place to conserve them in the area and at the same time develop eco-tourism in and around the earmarked reserve.

Parbat Singh Champawat,Range Officer Wildlife,Sumerpur,said,The area identified for the reserve is an ideal habitat. The broken hilly terrain with sparse vegetation provides suitable natural habitat to this big feline species. Many caves in the area provide hideouts to them. The Jawai Dam provides them water besides a few perennial springs in the hills near Sena village.

In three villages,waterholes will be desilted and deepened while 18 new waterholes will be created across the reserve. Around Rs 292 lakh is the estimated cost for habitat development and another Rs 66 lakh will be spent on waterholes.

The state government also plans to run a dedicated public awareness and education campaign to educate the local community about the importance of conservation. The local community will be explained how the panther-centric eco-tourism will help improve their socio-economic status. Currently,Castle Bera,the only heritage hotel in the area,and a few other smaller resorts do manage to draw a few tourists. However,no property offers accommodation of more than 10 rooms.

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Panthers common preyshareporcupine,nilgai,chinkara,monitor lizard,langur and crocodileare not in adequate numbers any longer. As a result,panthers venture into villages to pick up domestic animals. To increase the count of naturally found herbivores,grasslands in the area are planned to be developed which will provide a ready source of fresh fodder. Chinkaras,however,are no longer found in the area and hence they are proposed to be brought in , said PS Somashekar,Chief Conservator of Forests Wildlife.

Though not in the endangered list yet,panthers have been declining in number at an alarming rate,Somashekar points out. According to the 2011 census,436 panthers were found within protected areas and another 129 were found outside protected areas in the state. Officials said that the figure,though much better than in many other states,needs to be worked on as Rajasthans terrain makes for a natural habitat.