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2021-08-09T16:44:31Z

Birds

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{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2018}}
{{Infobox protected area
| name = Sita Mata Wildlife Sanctuary
| alt_name =
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| photo = A View of Sita Mata sanctuary, Pratapgarh, Rajasthan, India.jpg
| photo_alt =
| photo_caption = A view of Sita Mata sanctuary
| photo_width = 300px
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| location =
| nearest_city = [[Pratapgarh, Rajasthan|Pratapgarh]]
| coords = {{coord|24|04|N|74|25|E|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
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| area = 422.95 sq km
| established = {{Start date|df=yes|1979|11|1}}
| visitation_num =
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The '''Sita Mata Wildlife Sanctuary''' is a [[wildlife sanctuary]] situated in [[Pratapgarh district (Rajasthan)|Pratapgarh]] and [[Chittorgarh district|Chittaurgarh]] districts of Rajasthan [[Rajasthan]], [[India]], declared as a protected forest area by the Government of Rajasthan Notification No. F 11 (9) Revenue/8/79, dated 2/11/1979. It is a dense [[forest]], with an area of 422.95 square kilometers, which is about 40% of the total land area of the district. The land is undulating because of the confluence of three different formations — [[Malwa Plateau]], the [[Vindhyachal]] Hills and [[Aravali]] mountain ranges.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pratapgarhrajasthan.nic.in/|title=Pratapgarh, Rajasthan|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714115554/http://pratapgarhrajasthan.nic.in/|archive-date=2011-07-14}}</ref>

==Location==
The sanctuary is located between 74 degrees 25' E and 24 degrees 04' N in [[Pratapgarh district (Rajasthan)|Pratapgarh]] and [[Chittorgarh district|Chittaurgarh]] districts of Rajasthan.<ref name="GOI_Gazette_2015">{{Cite book|url=http://www.moef.gov.in/sites/default/files/S.O.%202871%20%5B19.10.2015%5D%20Draft%20ESZ%20Notification%20on%20Sitamata%20Wildlife%20Sanctuary%2C%20Rajasthan.pdf|title=Gazette of India No. 2287|publisher=Government of India|year=2015|location=New Delhi}}</ref> The average elevation ranges between 280 and 600 metres above mean [[sea level]] with an average [[rainfall]] of 756 mm annually. The temperature variation during winter is between 6 and 14 degrees [[Celsius]] and in summer is between 32 and 45 degrees.{{citation needed|date=November 2014}}

The thickly wooded Sita Mata Wildlife Sanctuary sprawls over the [[Aravali]] ranges and the [[Malwa]] [[plateau]], with the seasonal rivers Jakham, Karmoi, Sitamata, Budhho, and Tankiya flowing through the forest. Jakham is the largest. It is located about 45 km from Pratapgarh and 108 km from the divisional headquarters. [[Udaipur]], the sanctuary, covering 423 km<sup>2</sup> of mainly dry [[deciduous]] [[vegetation]] has exceptionally rich [[flora and fauna]].
The ''Champion and Seth'' forest type of Sita Mata is "IInd Dry Tropical Forest".

Pratapgarh is well connected with major cities in [[Rajasthan]], [[Gujarat]] & [[Madhya Pradesh]] by road. Daily bus services connect pratapgarh with [[Chittorgarh]] (110 km), [[Banswara]] (85 km), [[Udaipur]] (165 km), [[Dungarpur]] (195 km), [[Rajsamand]] (133 km), [[Jodhpur]] (435 km), [[Jaipur]] (432 km) in [[Rajasthan]]; [[Ratlam]] (85 km), [[Mandsaur]] (32 km) in M.P. and [[Delhi]] (705 km). Pratapgarh is yet to be connected with a railway line. The nearest railway stations are Mandsaur (M.P.) (28 km) & Chittorgarh (110 km). Dabok Airport ([[Udaipur]]) is 145 km.

==Flora==
It is the only forest region where more than half of the trees are high building value [[teak]].{{citation needed|date=November 2014}} These include [[Boswellia serrata|salar]], tendu (''Diospyros melonoxy'' Roxb.), [[Ficus benghalensis|bad]], [[Ficus religiosa|peepal]], [[Vachellia nilotica|babool]], [[Azadirachta indica|neem]], arinja (''Acacia leucophaea''), siras, churail, kachnar, gulmohar, amaltas, bakayan, ashok, mahua, semal, goondi, khejadi (''Prosopis spicigera''), kumta (''Acacia rupestris''), amla, [[bamboo]], sindoor, chironjee, rudraksha and bel trees. A survey has been taken to document [[ethnobotanical]] information on plants used by the natives to construct their huts and hamlets. At least 31 different species are used to construct of various types of huts and hamlets in the sanctuary.<ref>Kanhaiya Lal Meena, Vimala Dhaka, Prakash Chandra Ahir. 2013. "Traditional Uses of Ethnobotanical Plants for Construction of the Hut and Hamlets in the Sitamata Wildlife Sanctuary of Rajasthan, India." Journal of Energy and Natural Resources. Department of Botany, M. L. V. Government College Bhilwara 311001, Rajasthan, India. Vol. 2, No. 5, 2013, pp. 33–40.</ref> Of the 108 varieties of high value medicinal herbs found here, 17 are endangered.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rajforest.nic.in/?q=category/district/pratapgarh|title= Department of forest, Pratapgarh}}</ref>

==Fauna==
===Birds===
A large number of residential and migratory birds are found in this region, nearly 130 varieties. [[Little grebe]], [[little cormorant]], Indian darter ([[anhinga|snake bird]]), [[gray heron]], pond heron, [[cattle egret]], [[little egret]], [[painted stork]], [[woolly-necked stork|white-necked stork]], spoonbill, lesser whistling thrush, [[ruddy shelduck]], [[northern pintail|pintail]], cotton teal, [[Indian spot-billed duck]], nukta, parah kite, shikra, [[white-eyed buzzard]], [[king vulture]], [[white-backed vulture]], [[tawny eagle]], white scavenger vulture, eastrel, [[black partridge]], [[rain quail]], [[jungle bush quail]], [[Indian peafowl]], [[sarus crane]], [[white-breasted waterhen]], moorhen, [[purple swamphen|purple moorhen]], common coot, [[pheasant-tailed jacana]], [[red-wattled lapwing]], [[common redshank|red shank]], [[wood sandpiper]], [[common sandpiper]], [[little stint]], [[black-winged stilt]], [[stone-curlew]], [[Indian courser]], [[river tern (bird)|river tern]], [[common sandgrouse]], green pigeon, blue rock pigeon, [[red collared dove]], Indian ring dove, [[spotted dove]], little brown dove, [[Alexandrine parakeet]], [[rose-ringed parakeet]], [[blossom-headed parakeet]], [[common hawk-cuckoo]], [[jacobin cuckoo|pied crested cuckoo]], koel, [[greater coucal|crow pheasant]], [[spotted owlet]], [[collared scops owl]], Franklis nightjar, [[house swift]], palm swift, [[pied kingfisher]], [[common kingfisher]], [[white-throated kingfisher|white breasted kingfisher]], [[Asian green bee-eater]], blue tailed eater, [[blue-cheeked bee-eater]], [[Indian roller]], [[European roller]], [[hoopoe]], gray hornbill, coppersmith, golden backed woodpecker, yellow fronted pied woodpecker, [[Indian pitta]], [[Indian bush lark|red winged bush lark]], [[ashy-crowned sparrow-lark|ashy crowned finchlark]], [[rufous-tailed lark|rufous tailed finchlark]], [[crested lark]], [[dusky crag martin]], [[wire-tailed swallow]], [[red-rumped swallow]], gray shrike, [[bay-backed shrike]], [[long-tailed shrike|rufous backed shrike]], [[Eurasian golden oriole|golden oriole]], [[black drongo]] (king crow), [[white-bellied drongo]], [[brahminy starling|brahminy myna]], rody paster, [[common myna]], [[bank myna]], Indian tree pie, [[house crow]], [[jungle crow]], [[black-headed cuckooshrike]], [[scarlet minivet]], [[common iora]], [[red-vented bulbul]], [[common babbler]], [[yellow-eyed babbler]], [[large grey babbler]], [[grey-headed canary-flycatcher|gray headed flycatcher]], [[red-breasted flycatcher]], [[white-browed fantail|white browed fantail flycatcher]], [[paradise flycatcher]], Franklin's ween warbler, [[tailorbird]], [[lesser whitethroat]], [[Indian robin]], crested bunting, magpie robin, [[brown rock chat]], collared bush chat, [[pied bush chat]], [[large cuckooshrike]], wood shrike, [[grey tit]], [[yellow-cheeked tit]], yellow headed wagtail, [[grey wagtail]], [[white wagtail]], [[purple sunbird]], [[white-eye]], [[house sparrow]], weaver bird, red avadavat, [[Indian silverbill|white-throated munia]], [[scaly-breasted munia]], are a few varieties that are common to this forest region.

Two new bird species, [[white-throated ground thrush]] and [[black-necked monarch]] were discovered in the sanctuary.
for more refer the actual link<ref>{{cite journal | url=http://indianbirds.in/pdfs/IB.5.1_SanghaETAL_BrownFlycatcher.pdf | title=The first breeding record of the Asian Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa dauurica poonensis in Rajasthan, India | first1=Harkirat Singh | last1=Sangha | first2=Gobind Sagar | last2=Bhardwa | first3=Devender | last3=Mistry | journal=Indian Birds | volume=5 | issue=1 | date=10 June 2009 | access-date=12 October 2018 }}</ref>

===Mammals===
The [[flying squirrel]] (''Petaurista philippensis'') can be seen [[gliding]] from one tree to another around sunset in the Arampura forest, 17 km away from Dhariyawad. Its feeding activities are [[nocturnal]] and therefore it hides during the day time in its hollow in a ''Mahua'' tree. The best time to watch flying squirrels is between February and March, when most of the ''mahua'' trees shed their leaves and it is easier to spot the squirrel gliding between branches of leafless trees.

There are a variety of [[deer]] at the sanctuary, including the ''Chousingha'' ([[four-horned antelope]]) and [[spotted deer]]. [[Caracal]], [[wild boar]], [[pangolin]], [[Indian leopard]], [[striped hyena]], [[golden jackal]], [[Bengal fox]], [[jungle cat]], [[porcupine]], [[sloth bear]], and [[nilgai]] are also present.{{citation needed|date=October 2018}}

===Asiatic Lion Reintroduction Project===
{{Main|Asiatic Lion Reintroduction Project}}
The [[Asiatic lion]], which used to occur in Rajasthan, is now confined to Gujarat. Sita Mata Sanctuary had been considered as a place to relocate some lions, but the availability of prey was deemed to be negligible. Also, the area was prone to human disturbance.<ref name="FieldDays2013">{{cite book |last=Johnsingh |first=AJT |title=Field Days: A Naturalist's Journey Through South and Southeast Asia |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EU3inCiGFYYC&pg=PA126 |access-date=22 April 2013 |date=1 February 2006 |publisher=Universities Press |isbn=978-81-7371-552-5 |pages=126–138}}</ref>

==Tourist attractions==
[[File:Rock_Painting,_Sita_Mata_Sanctuary_in_Pratapgarh.jpg|thumb|Rock Painting at the sanctuary]]
It houses ancient [[Valmiki]] Ashram (the birthplace of [[Lava (Ramayana)|Luv]] and [[Kusha (Ramayana)|Kush]], the twins born to [[Sita]] and [[Lord Rama]]), the [[Hanuman]] and Sitamata [[temple]]s, and other places of historical and mythological importance. Another place of interest in the sanctuary, 5 km from Tikhi Magri, is Lakhiya Bhata, where drawings of prehistoric animals are engraved on rocks. There is a fair held in the sanctuary at the Sita Mata temple every July.

==Further reading==
* Collins' Handguide to the birds of Indian sub-continent, Martin W. Woodcock, William Collins Sons & Co., London, 1980
* [[Book of Indian Birds|The book of Indian Birds]], Salim Ali, 1972
* The birds of India, T.C. Jerdon, 3 vols.1862-64
* A synopsis of the Birds of India and Pakistan, S.Dillon Ripley, 1961
* A Study of Avifauna of the Rajasthan State (India), Dr. Dhirendra Devarshi, 2004
* Meena, K. L. & Yadav, B. L. 2008. Floral resources of Rajasthan with special reference to Sitamata wildlife sanctuary.
* Geographical aspects. Proceedings of the 35th National conference of Rajasthan geography Association. MLV Government College, Bhilwara. Vol. IX, pp. 6–65.
* Meena, K. L. 2014. Flora of Wildlife Sanctuary. Discovery Publishing House Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi.

==See also==
* [[Arid Forest Research Institute]] (AFRI)
* [[Khathiar-Gir dry deciduous forests]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Khathiar-Gir dry deciduous forests]]
[[Category:Protected areas established in 1979]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Pratapgarh district, Rajasthan]]
[[Category:Wildlife sanctuaries in Rajasthan]]
[[Category:1979 establishments in Rajasthan]]

Sita Mata Wildlife Sanctuary - Revision history

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