<Next Page>

About Wildlife | For Reservations

The state of Jammu & Kashmir has a special responsibility towards the rest of the country and indeed the world at large.Owing to events that took place as far back as 25 million years, the region has been endowed with a truly unique variety of life forms. These creatures had to adjust to the very special environment created when the break-away island that was to form the Indian peninsula met with the Asian mainland in the cataclysmic birth of the Himalayas. The mountains, foothills and plain house a zoogeographic diversity ranging from Oriental to Palearctic flora and fauna. And it is the conservation of this diversity that is the principal responsibility of the Jammu and Kashmir Department of Wildlife Protection. 

The animals that are to be protect are, of course, 'stars' in their own rights! Witness the snow leopard (Panthera uncia) , the common leopard (Panthera pardus), brown bear (Ursus arctos), the Himalayan black bear (Selenarctos thibetanus) , the hangul (Cervus elaphus hanglu), red fox (Vulpes vulpes ), markhor (Capra falconeri) , musk deer (Moschus moschiferus), yellow- throated marten (Martes flavigula ) and the shapu (Ovis orientalis) to name just a random shortlist! Above the mighty peaks soar grand raptors - golden eagles ( Aquila chrysaetos hodgsoni), lammergeiers (Gypaetus barbatus), black eagles (Ictinaetus malayenis), kestrels (Falco tinnunculus), hobbys (Falco subbuteo centralasiea), griffon vultures (Gyps himalayensis) and many more. Great stands of deodar (Cedrus deodara) and blue pine (Pinus wallichiana) clothe high slopes, while oak (Quercus dilatates), walnut (Juglans regia), mulberry (Morus alba) and horsechestnut deliver their bounty of fruit and leaf fodder to the animals lower down. Alpine meadows come alive each year to the profusion of wild flowers and herbs which provide sustenance to a myriad insect forms which in turn feed birds, amphibians and reptiles. No one fully catalogued this rich diversity, and the state continues to provide a fertile field laboratory for scores of ornithologists, entymologists, botanists and zoologists. On numerous occasions luck fossil- hunters have been rewarded with discoveries of ammonites, starfish and even sharks, etched for eternity in the stones of silence- all evidence of the original submarine existence of the region. 

The Department of Wildlife Protection out a simple promise the wildlife and the forests of jammu and Kashmir are alive and well and are receiving the protection they so richly deserve. In truth, our task is not being performed out of a sense of 'duty' to our follow creatures. We realise how vital the health of our woodlands is for the well -being of our people. Soil consevation, fresh water supply,sustainable fruit and fuel yields- all are dependent on the health of our 21,000 sq. km. Of forest land. The animals that are to be seen in forsets are the beneficiaries of several conservation ventures including high altitude sanctuaries and ambitious afforestation drives. 

Ramnagar Wildlife Sanctuary is situated only 6 km.away from Jammu city, this sanctuary occupies an area of 31 sq.km. The area sustains 8 mammal species including nilgai and barking deer and 15 species of birds. The best season for mammal viewing is September to March and for bird viewing March to May. Within the sanctuary is a two bedroomed hut. For passes contact the Regional Wildlife Warden, Jammu. 

Kishtwar High Altitude National Park is interesting for the marked variations in topography and vegetation that occur here. Spread over an area of 400 sq.km the park contains 15 mammal species including the musk deer and Himalayan black and brown bear.There are 50 species of birds.  The area is characterised by marked variations in topography,climate and altitude as a result of which different types of forest vegetation occur.The principal tree species are Cedrus deodara,Pinus gerardiana, Pinus wallichiana, Quercus spp., Juglans regia, Ulmus spp., etc. The dominant shrubs are Parrotiopsis jacquemontiana,Viburnum spp., Desmodium tiliaefolium and Rosa spp. The major herbs include Primula spp., Brachypodium spp., Anemone spp., Dipsacus mitis, Artemisia vulgaris, etc.  There are over fifteen mammal species; the principal species being hangul, musk deer, markhor, goral Himalayan brown bear, langur, leopard, etc. 

The sanctuary has an area of 33 sq.km. and has been named after nandni village located at a distance of 28 kms from Jammu.on NHIA. There is appreciable pheasant population. There are about eight mammal species in the area. The main species are leopard, wildboar, rhesus monkey, garal, grey langur etc. The common birds are Indian mynah, blue rock pigeon, peafowl, red jungle fowl, chir pheasants, chakor etc. 

Surinsar Mansar Wildlife Sanctuary named for the two lakes on each corner of it, this sanctuary comprises an area of 98 sq.km and supports a mammal population of 8 species and 15 species of birds. The mixed scrub forest comprises mainly of broad leaved species which are mixed with stands of Pinus gerardiana. The common broad leaved species are Acacia spp., Mallotus phillipensis, dalbergia sissii, ficus religiosa, bahunia variegata. There are eight species viz., Goral, wild boar, barking deer, leopard. There is multitude of birds viz., black partridge, red jungle fowl, peafowl, grey partridge, green pigeon, blue rock pigeon, rufus turtle dove. 

Jasrota Wildlife Sanctuary spread over an area of 10 sq.km the sanctuary houses an appreciable variety of bird as well as animal life,most notably cheetal or axis deer. This is located right on the baks of river Ujh. northwards of village Jasrota. The entire area mainly sustains Bamboo Plantations. The main shrubs are Lantana camara, Carisa spinarum, Dodonea Visacosa. The most prolific mammals found there are cheetal, Barking deer, wild boar, rhesus monkey. There is rich variet of pheasants and other migratory and resident birds. the principal species are peafowl, red jungle fowl, jungle bush quail, green pigeon and blue rock pigeon. 

Dachigam National Park 

DACHIGAM is a wildlife sanctuary which is home to the endangered HANGUL species of the Deer in the country. dachigam is also host to other wildlife of the state viz Black/ Brown Bear, Musk Deer, leopards and migratory birds. There is a Trout fish farm also in Dachigam. It is big natural reserve which requires permissions from the Wildlife Authorities for excploration. The dense forests of Dachigam offer a brilliant view alongwith a Glacier fed rivulet flowing right through the middle. There are over fifty species of trees,twenty of shrubs and five hundred species of herbs. The principal tree species are Pinus griffithii,Abies pindrow,Juglans regia,Morus alba,Betula utilis,Salix spp.,Populus spp., Prunus armeniaca, Corylus colurna,Quercus robur,Ulmus wallichiana, Aesculus indica, etc.Shrubs include Berberis spp.,Desmodium tiliaefolium,Parrotiopsis jacquemontiana, Indigofera heterantha etc. There are twenty mammal species which include hangul,Himalayan brown bear,Himalayan black bear, langur,Himalayan marmot,leopard etc. There are over 150 species of birds.The principal species are monal,koklas,bearded vulture, griffon vulture,golden eagle,grey heron,starling,golden oriole,paradise flycatcher,western yellow-billed blue magpie,kestrel,peregrine falcon,black bulbul, etc. 

Dachigam lies in Srinagar District and it is 20 Kms from the Distt Headquarters.The nearest Airport is approx. 25 Kms away in Badgam Distt.This Airport is connected with major cities of country. The nearest Rail Head is at Jammu which is 300 Kms away and from there National Highway NH1A connects the Kashmir valley with India.

The area is located located at a distance of 48 kms. from Srinagar to its south-west.It is famous for retaining several rare and endangered species like the musk deer, and a rich and varied avifauna.

The area holds a rich cover of vegetation, the dominant forest consisting of conifers which account for over 90%. The principal species are Cedrus deodara, Pinus griffithii, Abies pindrow, Aesculus indica etc. The major shrubs are Indigofera heterantha, Viburnum spp., Sorbaria tomentosa etc. the ground cover is very rich and dicotyledonus herbs dominate, comprising of Rumex patientia, Primula spp., anemone spp., etc.
Nature has gifted this Biosphere Reserve with multiple species of rare, endangered and protected species. The main species are hangul, musk deer, serow, brown bear, Leopard, black bear and red fox etc. 
The area houses a good population of pheasants and upland birds apart from other species, both resident and migratory. The common birds are griffon vulture, monal, snow cock, koklas, blue rock pigeon, Kashmir roller, European hoopoe, jungle crow etc. 

<Next Page>