वन्यप्राणी प्रभाग वन विभाग हिमाचल प्रदेश

20/06/2019

Endangered cheer pheasants in captivity to be released
Posted at: Jun 20, 2019, 8:05 AM
Last updated: Jun 20, 2019, 8:05 AM (IST)

Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, June 19

Having achieved a high success rate under the cheer pheasant breeding and conservation project at Chail in Solan, the Forest department is making final preparations for the release of the highly endangered birds whose movement will be monitored through radio collars.

It was in 2008 that the department launched the Rs 3.24-crore project at Khariyun near Chail, the lone worldwide initiative of its kind. After much delay, wildlife wing officials are geared up to release the chicks bred in captivity.

“We have a captive population of 62 birds which we are planning to release in October-November. However, a lot of preparations have to be made to ensure the survival and adaptation of the birds which are used to living in enclosures,” said Dr Savita, Principal Chief Conservator Forest (Wildlife). She said the birds are very sensitive to even the slightest of change in their environment and as such even the minutest details have to be taken care of. The birds will be shifted to bigger enclosures so that they learn to adapt and move around and also search for food. “We have already taken the consent from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) for the release and introduction of the birds into the forest,” revealed Dr Savita.

Suitable sites which would provide ideal habitat to the birds reared in captivity has also been selected.

She said the birds would be monitored through radio collars, which in turn would help experts to overcome whatever problems they detect after the birds’ release.

Wildlife experts said a month before their actual release, soft release of the birds into bigger enclosures would be undertaken. The breeding and conservation project of the highly endangered cheer pheasants has brought appreciation from wildlife experts.

19/06/2019

https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/camera-traps-to-study-snow-leopards-in-himachal-s-national-park-119061800688_1.html

In a first scientific study of its kind, the state Wildlife Department, in partnership with the Nature Conservation Foundation, is laying camera traps to study the elusive and highly endangered snow leopard in the alpine and high-altitude regions of

17/06/2019

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The efforts of the wildlife wing of the Forest Department seems to have yielded positive results as there has been an appreciable increase in the number of the highly endangered snow leopards in the high mountain areas of the state.

Even though the process of population estimation is still underway, the staff of the wildlife wing has already recorded 49 snow leopards in upper Kinnaur, Pin Valley, Tabo, Tharot-Miyar, Bhaga, Chandra and upper Spiti landsacape. “The number of snow leopards that have been estimated in seven major areas so far is already 49 whereas the estimation is yet to be done in some other areas like Chamba, Kinnaur and Great Himalayan Park (GHNP) having a sizeable presence of the majestic animal,” said Dr Savita, Principal Chief Conservator Forest (PCCF). She added that the number is definitely higher than that recorded in the past.

Past studies in 2016, though not very scientific, had put the number of snow leopards in Himachal at 67 which was far higher than the earlier figure of less than 20. With the launch of the Snow Leopard Conservation Project, the number seems to have shot up and could even touch 100, say forest officials.

The state wildlife wing of the Forest Department is executing the “Snow Leopard Project” in association with Mysore based Nature Conservation Foundation for conservation of the animal found at great heights in the entire Himalayan region. More than 30 cameras have been installed at various locations on the left bank of Spiti river to be able to arrive at a rough estimate of their population. With the snow leopard found in limited high altitude areas, efforts are being made worldwide to conserve the animal which is highly endangered.

Himachal is the only state in the country to have undertaken population estimation of snow leopards which are also found in alpine regions of other states like Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand. The most frequent sighting has been in Kibber Plateau, slopes between Kee, Gete and Tashigang, Shilla Nalla area, plateau around Langza, Hikkim, Komic and slopes around Demul, Salung, Rama and Lalung.

Though the snow leopard frequents an area of almost 20,000 sq km in the Himalayan region its density is higher in specific areas in Spiti and Kinnaur.

To help in conservation of this animal, the Forest Department has roped in the migratory shepherds who spot the snow leopards quite often and keep giving valuable inputs to forest officials.

Number may touch 100

The studies conducted in 2016, though not very scientific, had put the number of snow leopards in Himachal at 67 which was far higher than the earlier figure of less than 20.
With the launch of the Snow Leopard Conservation Project, the number seems to have shot up and could even touch 100, say forest officials.
Himachal is the only state in the country to have undertaken population estimation of snow leopards.
The most frequent sighting has been in Kibber Plateau, slopes between Kee, Gete and Tashigang, Shilla Nalla area, plateau around Langza, Hikkim, Komic and slopes around Demul, Salung, Rama and Lalung.

15/06/2019

वन्यप्राणी प्रभाग की मुखिया प्रधान मुख्य अरण्यपाल (WL) डॉ सविता जी ने पक्षीशाला चौरामैदान का औचक निरीक्षण किया, इस पूरे निरीक्षण में पक्षीशाला में सभी व्यवस्थाओं का जायजा लिया, और साथ मैं सभी अधिकारियों को उचित रख रखाव रखने और पक्षीशाला को पर्यटन की दृष्टि से विकशित करने हेतु समधित अधिकारियों से समन्वय स्थापित करने के दिशा निर्देश दिए. इस निरीक्षण के दौरान अतिरिक्त मुख्य अरण्यपाल सहित अन्य अधिकारी व कर्मचारी उपस्थित रहे.

14/06/2019

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1103417016508584&id=633986643451626

14/06/2019

Protected Area Network
With a view to conserve the total range of wildlife available in the state, the Government of Himachal Pradesh has declared several areas, covering all the agro-climatic zones in the state and having significant ecological, geomorphological and biodiversity value, as Conservation Reserves, Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Parks.

At present, there are 5 National Parks, 26 Wildlife Santuaries and 3 Conservation Reserves. The details are as under:
S.No. Category of Protected Area. Area in Sq.Km
1 National Parks. 2407.28
2 Wildlife Sanctuaries. 5964.9731
3Conservation Reserves. 19.17
Total 8391.4231
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Zoos & Aviaries.
Zoos and Aviaries form an integral part of the programme to conserve wildlife ex situ and also fulfil the objective to showcase the animals for entertainment and education of the general public, for carrying out scientific studies on Red Listed species and for breeding of such species so as to maintain their gene pool.

In Himachal Pradesh, the varied agro-climatic zones necessitate the setting up of these ex situ conservation centres across different zones to keep the captive animals in as natural a habitat as possible. As on now, there are three recognized zoological parks at Kufri, Renuka and Gopalpur and three aviaries (pheasantries) at Shimla, Sarahan, Chail and Nehru Pheasantry from Manali.

The zoos and aviaries in the state are located at vantage points and have over the years contributed a lot in creating awareness about the very beautiful but less known Himalayan animals.

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14/06/2019

Please save and love the valuable wildlife of Himachal Pradesh .
of Forest Department wants people participation for conserving forests and wildlife of Himachal Pradesh because Himachal Pradesh is magadiversity area so it's our duty to save the biodiversity of Himachal Pradesh .
Birds of Himachal Pradesh
वन्यप्राणी प्रभाग वन विभाग हिमाचल प्रदेश

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14/06/2019

Birds of Himachal Pradesh
Photo by :- Santosh thakur Photography
वन्यप्राणी प्रभाग वन विभाग हिमाचल प्रदेश