Rajasthan
State Forest Dept Proposes To Reintroduce Gaurs And Wild Dogs In Mukundra Reserve | Jaipur News
Jaipur: The state forest department recently tabled a proposal in the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)’s technical committee meeting to reintroduce gaur and wild dogs in the Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve (MHTR).
The chief wildlife warden of Rajasthan had sought permission for the translocation and reintroduction of 20 female and 10 male gaur from Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra to MHTR. Similarly, a proposal regarding the introduction of three pairs of wild dogs in the existing enclosure of MHTR, which spans 82 sq km, was tabled. There was no proposal discussed in the meeting regarding the shifting of cheetahs to MHTR. As a result, speculations were put to rest that cheetahs will not be shifted to MHTR for now.
For the reintroduction and translocation of gaurs, the NTCA has directed to carry out population and habitat viability assessment (PHVA) and submit a report for taking a decision in the matter.
A forest official said the gaur is an important mega-herbivore species found in South Asian countries. The MHTR provides a suitable habitat to sustain a viable population of gaurs. It is the largest wild bovine that is a protected species and included in Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and listed as vulnerable in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red list. There are about 13,000 to 30,000 gaurs in the world with approximately 85% of the population in India, he said.
“Our aim is to establish and restore a viable, free ranging, healthy population of gaur in the protected area. As part of the population building exercise, the plan involves reintroducing 20 gaurs from Kanha and Satpura to MHTR,” he said.
The minute of the meeting reads that the introduction of three pairs of wild dogs too requires a PHVA. “After assessing the finding of the report, the agenda will be placed in the next technical committee,” reads minutes/ record of the first technical committee meeting.
Officials said wild dogs are locally extinct from Ranthambore, Sariska and MHTR primarily due to extermination. “As dhole packs compete with tigers and leopards for food, it’s certain that it will be reintroduced in MHTR, where it’s population can thrive and flourish,” the forest official said.
The chief wildlife warden of Rajasthan had sought permission for the translocation and reintroduction of 20 female and 10 male gaur from Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra to MHTR. Similarly, a proposal regarding the introduction of three pairs of wild dogs in the existing enclosure of MHTR, which spans 82 sq km, was tabled. There was no proposal discussed in the meeting regarding the shifting of cheetahs to MHTR. As a result, speculations were put to rest that cheetahs will not be shifted to MHTR for now.
For the reintroduction and translocation of gaurs, the NTCA has directed to carry out population and habitat viability assessment (PHVA) and submit a report for taking a decision in the matter.
A forest official said the gaur is an important mega-herbivore species found in South Asian countries. The MHTR provides a suitable habitat to sustain a viable population of gaurs. It is the largest wild bovine that is a protected species and included in Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and listed as vulnerable in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red list. There are about 13,000 to 30,000 gaurs in the world with approximately 85% of the population in India, he said.
“Our aim is to establish and restore a viable, free ranging, healthy population of gaur in the protected area. As part of the population building exercise, the plan involves reintroducing 20 gaurs from Kanha and Satpura to MHTR,” he said.
The minute of the meeting reads that the introduction of three pairs of wild dogs too requires a PHVA. “After assessing the finding of the report, the agenda will be placed in the next technical committee,” reads minutes/ record of the first technical committee meeting.
Officials said wild dogs are locally extinct from Ranthambore, Sariska and MHTR primarily due to extermination. “As dhole packs compete with tigers and leopards for food, it’s certain that it will be reintroduced in MHTR, where it’s population can thrive and flourish,” the forest official said.
