To attract tourists, Rajasthan to open two safari routes at Nahargarh Sanctuary

Tourists visiting Pink city will have an added destination for leopard safari as the forest department plans to open two routes in Nahargarh Wildlife Sanctuary (NWS). The routes earmarked are between Papad Ke Hanuman Ji -Mayala Bagh and Biological Park - Odiram Sagar. DFO Ajay Chittora said, “We have received approval to open these routes. The work to develop the grassland and tracks will be started as soon as budget is sanctioned.” As per the wildlife estimation 2020, there are five leopard cubs and 10 adult leopards, including three females and seven males, in the sanctuary encompassing an area of about 52sqkm. Other than the leopards, the department recorded porcupine (35), hyena (30), fox (5), blue bull (248), peacocks (1,440) and mongoose (50) at Nahargarh. Environmentalists have appreciated the move as it will conserve the forest and wildlife. Dhirendra Godha, member of State Board for Wildlife (SBWL) said, “Rajasthan was the first state in the country to initiate ‘Project Leopard’ and started effective monitoring at Jhalana . The move is commendable as it would make Nahargarh flourish like Jhalana. The forest department should also develop Galta in next step as it would give more space for wildlife to breathe.” Hope and Beyond’s chairman Joy Gardner, who is running a campaign ‘Nahargarh Matters’ said, “ Due to shortage of staff , encroachment in the sanctuary is rapidly increasingly. Also, people visiting Nahargarh do not consider it as forest and throw litter and alcohol bottles. In our campaign, we have collected 5.5 tonne garbage so far.” Buoyed by the success of Jhalana, which was introduced two years ago, the department is confident the safari in NWS will attract tourists. A forest officer at Jhalana said, “Jhalana is a shining example of how wildlife tourism can thrive in the middle of a crowded city. On an average, 100 tourists come for safari daily round the year. There are many big hotels in the catchment area of NWS. Eco-tourism will make the sanctuary self- sustained.” Plea for lightning arrester As many celebrities and thousands of tourists visit Shikar Audhi, the erstwhile hunting place, SBWL member Dhirendra Godha has put forward the proposal to install lighnting arrester at the structure. The place stands testimony to all the hunts that were carried out in Jhalana . He said, “This structure has historical relevance and lighting strike threat prevails on it. The forest department should not neglect it and arrester should be installed.”