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Sitabani Wildlife Reserve is a wildlife reserve in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand. It is a home of above 600 species of resident and migrating birds throughout the year.[1]
History[edit]
The hill at Sitabani was subjected to years of slash and burn agriculture by the villagers. As a result, the land got degraded and the moisture profile of the soil dropped majorly. The surrounding forests had so much of deer, nilgai and wild-boar presence that the crops would regularly be destroyed by the ungulates. Also a lot of domestic animals like cows, buffaloes, goats and dogs would be often picked up by tigers and leopards.
This agricultural hill was gradually bought over from the villagers who owned it and then methodically converted it into prime habitat over the next few years. Some higher barren parts of the estate were gradually made green by planting many fruiting trees like many species of Indian figs, Jamun, Wild Mango, Bhimal, Rohini, Jackfruit etc. These started attracting birds and wild herbivores. Waterbodies were dug out to store excess rainwater and with time these became like natural ponds in the forest harbouring fish, amphibians, insects and turtles. In drier months, all the wild animals from the neighbouring hills started coming to these perennial waterbodies to quench their thirst and soon Sitabani became a magnet for free-ranging wildlife. Many endemic bamboo species were planted after eradicating weeds which became a favourite amongst deer and passing elephants. Soon tigers and leopards started frequenting the reserve. Many local villagers were inducted and employed at the reserve by the founder Abhishek Ray[2] thereby generating revenue through eco-tourism and creating a sustainable economic model thriving essentially on conservation.[3]
Animals[edit]
Being a part of the trans-Himalayan birding corridor, the reserve gets both plain and mountain birds during latitudinal and altitudinal migration patterns. Some Himalayan animal species like Himalayan Black Bear, Himalayan weasel, Yellow-throated Pine Marten, Himalayan Goral and Serow also visit the reserve especially during the winter months. Indian leopards in this reserve inhabit the craggy cliffs and gorges to avoid interaction with the dominant predator, the Royal-Bengal Tiger[4][5] which prefers the thickly forested valleys and lowlands. Herds of Asiatic Elephants pass through the reserve when migrating between the core and buffer areas of Jim Corbett National Park. Altitudinal and geographical variations and diverse flora combined with direct connectivity with Jim Corbett National Park on one side and the Nainital Forest Division on the other makes this reserve a natural tiger-leopard and birding corridor of strategic conservation value.[6]
References[edit]
External links[edit]
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