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TAL CHHAPAR SANCTUARY - IAS Academy in Coimbatore

TAL CHHAPAR SANCTUARY

Why in News?

Recently, the famous Tal Chhapar Blackbuck Sanctuary in Churu, Rajasthan received a protective cover against a proposed move of the State government to reduce the size of its Eco Sensitive Zone (ESZ).

• The World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) has also taken up a major project for the conservation of raptors in the sanctuary, spread in an area measuring 7.19 sq. Km.
• The Tal Chhapar Sanctuary is situated on the border of the Great Indian Thar Desert.
• Tal Chhapar is a distinctive shelter of the most graceful Antelope seen in India, “the Blackbuck”.
• It was given the status of a sanctuary in 1966.
• Tal Chhapar was a hunting reserve of the erstwhile royal family of Bikaner.
• The “Tal” word is Rajasthani word means plane land.
• This Sanctuary has nearly flat territory and combined thin low-lying region. It has got open and wide grasslands with spread Acacia and Prosopis plants that offer it a look of a characteristic Savanna.

Fauna:

• Tal Chhapar is an ideal place to see Blackbucks which are more than a thousand in number here. It is a good place to see the desert animals and reptile species.
• The sanctuary is host to about 4,000 blackbucks, over 40 species of raptors and more than 300 species of resident and migratory birds.
• Migratory birds in the sanctuary are harriers, eastern imperial eagle, tawny eagle, short-toed eagle, sparrow, and little green bee-eaters, black ibis and demoiselle cranes. Other than that, skylarks, crested larks, ring doves, and brown doves can be seen throughout the year.

Blackbucks

About: The Blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra), or the Indian Antelope, is a species of antelope native to India and Nepal. It is widespread in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, and other areas throughout peninsular India. It is considered as the epitome of grassland. The blackbuck is a diurnal antelope (active mainly during the day). It has been declared as the State Animal of Punjab, Haryana, and Andhra Pradesh.

Cultural Importance: It is a symbol of purity for Hinduism as its skin and horns are regarded as a sacred object. For Buddhism, it is a symbol of good luck.

Protection Status:

• Wildlife Protection Act 1972: Schedule I
• IUCN Status: Least Concern
• CITES: Appendix III

Threat: Habitat Fragmentation, Deforestation, Natural Calamities, Illegal Hunting.

Related Protected Areas:

• Velavadar Blackbuck Sanctuary - Gujarat
• Point Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary - Tamil Nadu