As many as 23 big cats have been spotted in the Kalesar National Park in Haryana’s Yamunanagar district in a first ever wildlife census conducted with the help of camera trap method.
Haryana Forest Department had in the year 2014 roped in Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun to conduct the wildlife census and install around 100 camera traps in Kalesar National Park.
“Twenty-three leopards have been spotted by the camera traps laid by the WII in the Kalesar National Park last year,” said Hari Kant Sharma , range forest officer and Wildlife Inspector Rajpal at Kalesar National Park while talking to The Pioneer.
They informed that this is for the first time that such a large number of leopards have been spotted in the National Park.
RFO Hari Kant Sharma said that the process of wildlife census through the camera traps had continued for about four months before compiling the pictures. While the cameras had captured 23 big cats in an area of around 100 sq km, more 7 leopards were spotted by the wildlife officials outside the area where camera traps were not laid in the Park. The total number of leopards in the Park is hence 30 now.”
“The last wildlife census held four years back had spotted pugmarks of about 17 leopards. The number has now jumped to 30 big cats in Kalesar, which is an indication of good ecological balance and environment there,” said Sharma.
The large numbers of the agile and stealthy predator, leopard, in the National Park has also sent a ripple of excitement among the trekking enthusiasts and forest officials are hopeful to draw in more wildlife enthusiasts this year.
The total area of Kalesar forest is about 11088 hectares, out of which an area of 4682 hectare was declared as National Park and just adjacent to the National Park is Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary, having an area of 5406 hectares. The Sanctuary is situated in the Shivalik Hill Range which runs along the eastern side of the forest.
According to the forest officials, a wide range of fauna is found in Kalesar National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary including animals like leopard (Panthera pardus), Jackal, Sambar, Chital, Nilgai, Indian Crested Porcupine, Barking Deer, leopard cat, Rusty spotted cat, Asiatic Elephant, Goral, Civet, Common langur, Monkey, Wild Pig, Mongoose. Besides, the tigers and Elephants from the Rajaji National park are occasional visitors to this area.
As per the last wildlife census held in the state, leopard is most widely distributed carnivorous in the State. Tiger is occasionally reported from Kalesar area adjoining Shivalik division of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
Haryana Forest Department is now planning to conduct wildlife census of the Aravalis forest area in the State.