The Jhilmil Jheel Reserve of Haridwar forest division is fast losing its sheen to the Chilla Range of Rajaji Tiger Reserve thanks to the publicity the latter receives. The region's only habitat of the swamp deer (Barasingha), an endangered species, the Jhilmil Reserve also houses cheetal, sambar, bear and neel gai in good number. Once in a while, tiger is also seen moving in the area. Despite the rich bio-diversity the area is endowed with, footfall of tourists is declining fast, something which has left the forest department officials worried.
located some 20 kilometres away from the Chandighat milestone near Har Ki Paidi in Rasiabadh range of Haridwar forest division, the Jhilmil reservoir is a round- shaped wetland surrounded by forest. Apart from the deer, Asian elephant, leopard and tiger are also spotted in the wetland. During winters, over 150 species of migratory birds land here which, if publicised rightly, can attract a good number of tourists.
Known by the scientific name of Cervus duvauceli, Barasingha or swamp deer abounds in the marshy lands of Haridwar- Najibabad- Rasiabadh forest range. In 2004, just 45 of its species was left. later it was declared an endangered species of the world. Since then its number has gone up to a little over 200 thanks to their untiring efforts, claim the forest officials.
A rest house has come up at the behest of the state government a few metres away from the entrance. However, despite a huge amount sanctioned for the maintenance of other forest rest houses in Chilla and other forest ranges, Jhilmil Jheel reserve gets a tiny part of the sanctioned amount. Things are far from satisfactory here as the number of tourists who stay here so far this season is a paltry 300. Though 'VIPs' queue up to stay in the rest house maintained by the forest department they hardly explore the wetlands since there is no safari jeep available with the forest authorities.
Speaking to The Pioneer, the range officer of Rasiabadh Range Pradeep Uniyal said, “Due to lack of publicity, the number of tourists visiting the area is not satisfactory. When there is booking for safari, we get jeeps from Chilla Range. Efforts are, however, on to make sure that the area sees tourist footfalls to the expected extent. But the limited facilities available here is proving to be a hindrance to the achievement of the goal we have set up.”
The forest officers have also given a proposal for using microchip to bring about the necessary changes in the habitat and to rightly understand the migration pattern and the threats posed to the animals from outside the range. However, not much research has been done on the swamp deer, the endangered species till date, laments Dinesh Bhatt, head of the department, Zoology and Environmental Science, Gurukul Kangri Vishwavidyalay.