Dog family in danger

[Guest guest]

Cats may envy it but dogs are thriving in the neighbourhood of the

Project Tiger sanctuary, Ranthambhore National Park (R.N.P.) in

Sawai Madhopur district of Rajasthan. As many as four species of

Canidae or the dog family have been reported on the banks of the

Banas river in areas adjacent to the R.N.P. and the nearby Kailadevi

sanctuary in recent times with the Indian Grey Wolf (Canis lupus

pillepes) topping the list.

 

Well-documented presence of wolf has been established in the

scrublands along the Banas ravines near villages, Chanakya Dha, Amli

Dha and Olwara Ghata. The other Canidae species reported from the

area are the Jackal (Canis aureus), Indian fox (Vulpes bengalensis)

and the Desert fox (Vulpes vulpes pusilla). The Hyena (Hyaena

hyanea) is a stealthy visitor to the backyards of many a forest

dweller's residence in the area.

 

The Ranthambhore Park and its peripheral areas have the presence of

Asiatic wild dog (Cuon alpinus) as well though these ferocious

hunters do not limit themselves to any particular area for long.

 

" This terrain, presently under stress, is important for the

conservation of Canids, " Dharmendra Khandal, a researcher who works

with the Ranthambhore-based Tiger-Watch, said talking to The

Hindu. " The protection of the area, which forms an important

corridor between Kailadevi sanctuary and Ranthambhore is important

for tiger conservation as well, " he noted.

 

Mr. Khandal has been on a Canid-trail for sometime. Recently he

spotted four wolves on the banks of the Chakhan river, a tributary

of the Chambal, near Kailadevi sanctuary. The sighting of a pack of

five wolves followed the next day, he informed. " The wolves are

surviving despite antagonism from the Rebaris (cattle breeders) who

destroy their dens frequently and kill the pups, " he observed.

 

" I was told about a wolf family being annihilated in the area last

year. The cattle breeders demolished the boroughs and threw the pups

into the river, " Mr. Khandal said. " The Rebaris use poison also to

kill the wolves. Another method practised is to collect twigs and

dry leaves at the entrance of the dens and set them on fire. The

animals die either of suffocation or due to burns, " he noted.

 

" Wolves used to abound the basin of the desert river Luni once, "

said V.D. Sharma, retired Principal Chief Conservator of Forests,

Rajasthan. " The wolves dig boroughs in the sandy basins of the Luni

and breed. Their survival has been a big struggle all along as

Rebaris targeted them, " he said. In turn, the wolves targeted the

sheep and goat stocks of the Rebaris and picked them up at random.

 

" A wolf has to be very cunning (the whole world knows it!) for

survival. In Rajasthan they are found in smaller packs of five-six

as bigger numbers made survival more difficult, " said Mr. Sharma,

who closely studied wolf habitats in Kumbalgarh sanctuary in South

Rajasthan's Rajsamand district during his tenure as Chief Wildlife

Warden.

 

" In Joba forest bloc, an area of 400-500 hectares once developed as

a special territory for wolves in Kumbalgarh sanctuary, one can have

an assured sighting of wolves, " he added.

 

Mr. Khandal is worried about the terrain near Ranthambhore for the

sake of dogs. " This is a Canidae haven which needs protection.

Unfortunately in the name of wasteland development the authorities

are disturbing this area constructing bunds to check soil erosion, "

he lamented.