Haryana has nearly 100 leopards in Shivalik and Aravalli, including Kalesar National Park, and 40 to 45 leopards in Gurugram-Faridabad Aravali of which 25 to 30 in Gurugram alone. Rajesh Chahal, Inspector Wildlife, Gurugram in an interview with Dr. Anubha Jain said “A plan to protect a 15km stretch with a 10000-acre area earmarked in Gurgaon for a leopard park. The work will be initiated soon.”
The Gurugram Leopard Park, will be inspired by the Jhalana Leopard Safari Park in Jaipur, is expected to reduce incidents of leopards straying into the city. Jhalana Safari will serve as a model for the building of the leopard park. The project, which is a collaboration between the forest department, district administration, Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) and Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG), aims to create a 15km jungle trail between the two points. GMDA officials plan to take representatives from various government departments and development authorities on a tour of the Jhalana Leopard Park in November to gain insights into the Gurgaon project.
Just 10 km away from Jaipur city, Jhalana is spread over an area of 23 sq. km. Jhalana is said to be the world’s most densely populated leopard reserve, with almost 40 leopards. Lilu Ram, Inspector Wildlife Kalesar National Park in a candid conversation with Dr. Anubha Jain informed that in Kalesar there are 45 to 50 leopards in the region but through camera traps the number is low, i.e., roughly 30 leopards.
Kalesar National Park (13,000 acres (53 km2)) and adjacent Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary (13,209 acres (53.45 km2) are protected areas in Kalesar of Yamunanagar district of Haryana state. 46 kilometres from Yamunanagar city, 122 kilometres (76 mi) from Chandigarh, Kalesar National Park was established in 2003. Kalesar National Park and Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary are contiguous to Simbalbara National Park in Himachal Pradesh and Rajaji National Park in Uttarakhand. Kalesar is a popular destination for leopards, panthers, elephants, red jungle fowl, and bird-watching. Afghan invader Ahmad Shah Abdali camped at Pinjore Gardens in 1765 and British Raj soldier Rollo Gillespie camped in these hills in 1807 for tiger hunting.
In 2016, the annual two-month animal counting survey done by the Wildlife Institute of India using cameras, found 42 Indian leopards here, up from 19 in the 1989 report (reported then as panthers).
Leopards frequently move between the Aravalis in Gurgaon and Faridabad, the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary in Delhi, and the Sariska Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan. Leopard pugmarks have often been seen at the contiguous forested areas of Gurugram-Faridabad Aravalli hills such as Mangar Bani, Badkhal Lake wildlife area, Mohbtabad, Roj ka Meo.
The number of confirmed leopard sightings in Gurgaon and neighbouring districts has been on the rise in recent years. A survey conducted by the Wildlife Institute of India in 2017 revealed the significant presence of wildlife, including 10 carnivores, in the south Haryana Aravalis, which encompass Gurgaon, Faridabad, Nuh, Palwal, Mahendergarh, and Rewari districts. The leopard population in the area has seen a four-fold increase since the last survey in 2012, with 31 leopards being counted.
However, the urbanization of these areas has disrupted their natural habitat, leading to increased conflicts between humans and leopards.
Wildlife Sanctuaries in Punjab
There are 12 wildlife sanctuaries duly notified in the State of Punjab. The total area under these sanctuaries is 32,370.64 ha out of which 13,720.64 ha belongs to the Government area and the rest 18,650.00 ha belongs to private area consisting of 13 “Bishnoi” villages comprising the Abohar Wildlife Sanctuary.
Raman Kant Mishra, IFS and Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Head of Forest Force), Mohali in an interview with Dr. Anubha Jain said, “From Chandigarh to Pathankot the distance is about 300km. and there are 30-40 leopards in this region. However, there are leopards but covering this big area isn’t feasible for the purpose of developing a safari. As the Jhalana Leopard Safari is spread over a small area as compared to this, hence, it is a viable condition for a safari there. We have black buck and other species of birds in and around the sanctuaries so as of now we are focusing on that,” he added.
The important features of these Sanctuaries (Protected Areas) are -
ABOHAR WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
This Sanctuary is located 8 km. from Abohar city in district Ferozepur. This Sanctuary is famous for Black Buck and covers an area of 18,650.00 ha. The entire area of Sanctuary is private or community-owned land of 13 Bishnoi villages. Black Buck is the main wildlife species found in this sanctuary area. An interpretation center exists in this Sanctuary area where awareness about wildlife preservation is provided to the public.
HARIKE WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
This Sanctuary is located at a distance of 58 km. from Amritsar on Kot Isa Khan- Harike Road. This Sanctuary is spread over 8,600.00 ha of Government area that falls in the Ferozepur, Taran Tarn and Kapurthala Districts. Harike Pond area was declared a Wildlife Sanctuary vide Punjab Government Notification. The sanctuary attracts a large number of migratory birds during the winter months. Important species of birds like Large Cormorant, Darter, Purple Moorhen, Bar-headed Goose, Pintail, Common Teal, Pigeon, Shoveller, Common Pochard, Red Crested Pochard, White-eyed Pochard are found in this Sanctuary. Harike Sanctuary is a Ramsar site of International importance declared on 23 March 1990.
BIR MOTI BAGH WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
This Sanctuary is situated at a distance of 5 Km. from Patiala on Patiala-Dakala Road and is spread over 654.00 ha of Government area. Black Buck, Chital, Hog Deer, Blue Bull, Wild Boar, Jackal, Rhesus Monkey, Peafowl, Brahminy Myna, Black and Grey Partridges, Quails etc. are found here in this Sanctuary area. A Deer park is also situated in this Sanctuary area. BIR GURDIALPURA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
Bir Gurdialpura Sanctuary is situated at a distance of 45 km. from Patiala city and 15 km. from Samana on Patiala-Samana-Shatrana Road and is spread over 620.53 ha of Government area. Wild Boar, Blue Bull, Jungle Cat, Jackal, Hog Deer, Rhesus Monkey, Peafowl, Black and Grey Partridges, Dove and Spotted owlet etc. are found here in this Sanctuary area.
BIR BHUNERHERI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
This Sanctuary is situated at a distance of 15 km. from Patiala on Patiala-Devigarh road and is spread over 661.66 ha of Government area. A number of old Shisham & Kikar trees are found in the Sanctuary area which provide good habitat to wildlife. Hog Deer, Blue Bull, Porcupine, Black Buck, Sambar, Jungle Cat, Jackal, Rhesus Monkey, Peafowl, Black and Grey Partridges, Dove and Spotted owlet etc. are found here in this Sanctuary area.
BIR MEHAS WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
The name of Bir Mehas refers to the village Mehas, which is located adjacent to the Bir. The Sanctuary is situated adjacent to Nabha town on Nabha-Malerkotla Road and is spread over 123.43 ha of Government area that falls in tehsil Nabha of District Patiala. Despite local people pressure and other disturbances, this sanctuary harbours many wildlife species such as Rhesus Monkey, Jungle Cat, Peacock, Blue Bull, Jackal, Black and Grey Partridges etc .
BIR DOSANJH WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
Bir Dosanjh Wildlife Sanctuary is also situated adjacent to Nabha town on Nabha to Jorepul Road and is spread over 517.59 ha of Government area that falls in tehsil Nabha of District Patiala. Blue bull, Jungle Cat, Jackal , Rhesus Monkey, Peafowl, Black and Grey Partridges etc. are found here in this Sanctuary area.
BIR BHADSON WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
This Sanctuary falls in district Patiala and is located on the left side of Nabha- Bhadson- Gobindgarh Road. This Sanctuary is spread over 1,022.63 ha of Government area. It harbours many wildlife species such as Blue Bull, Jungle Cat, Jackal, Rhesus Monkey, Peafowl, Black and Grey Partridges, Hare, Spotted owlet etc.
BIR AISHWAN WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
Bir Aishwan Wildlife Sanctuary is situated 3 Km from Sangrur city on Sohian Road in District Sangrur. This Sanctuary is spread over 264.40 ha of Government area. It harbours wildlife species like Blue Bull, Jungle Cat, Jackal, Rhesus Monkey, Peafowl, Black and Grey Partridges, Hare, Spotted owlet etc. An Environment Chetna Kendra also exists in this Sanctuary area.
TAKHNI REHMAPUR WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
This Sanctuary is situated at a distance of 15 km. from Hoshiarpur on Hoshiarpur- Mehengrowal road. This Sanctuary is spread over 382.00 ha of Government area (i.e. 956 acres of which 498 acres area belongs to Village Takhni and 458 acres area belongs to village Rehmapur) that falls in District Hoshiarpur. This Sanctuary is situated at the foot – hills of Shiwalik Range of Himalayas and is representative of Foot Hill Ecosystem. It abodes a variety of wildlife species and is rich in floral diversity also. Barking Deer, Pangolin, Python, Hog Deer, Jungle Cat, Jackal, Mongoose, Wild Boar, Rat Snake and Kalij Pheasant are found in this Sanctuary. Takhni-Rehmapur area in Hoshiarpur was first declared as a Wildlife Sanctuary.
JHAJJAR-BACHAULI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
This Sanctuary is situated 15 Km. from Anandpur Sahib city in the Government forest area of District Rupnagar. It has an area of 116.00 ha (i.e. 289 acres of which 218 acres area belongs to Village Jhajjar, 55 acres to village Bachauli and 16 acres to Village Lamlehri). Sambar, Barking Deer, Hare, Jackal, Python, Cobra, Rat snake, Leopard (migratory) etc. are found here in this Sanctuary area.
KATHLOUR KUSHALIAN WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
This Sanctuary is located on the new bye pass of Amritsar–Jammu Highway in Tehsil Pathankot of District Gurdaspur. This sanctuary is spread over 758.40 ha of Government protected forest area (i.e. 1896 acres of which 346 acres area belongs to Village Kushalian and 1550 acres area belongs to village Kathlour and adjoining villages Rajpur, Bahadurpur and Jaswa). The sanctuary has a good population of different ungulates and deer species. This area comprises dense (closed canopy) forests, interspersed with open grasslands of Saccharum and water bodies as it lies on the banks of the bed of river Ravi.
NANGAL WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
This sanctuary is located on 15 km from Anandpur Sahib city in Ropar. This sanctuary is spread over 116 ha. Main wildlife species found in the sanctuary are Sambar, Barking deer, Hare, Jackal, Python, Cobra, Rat snake, Leopard (migratory), etc. As per forest classification, the sanctuary falls under the Dry Deciduous Forest type. The main tree species are Khair, Shisham, Subabul, Siris, Phalai, Ficus spp., Neem, etc