The Rajaji National Park and Tiger Reserve spread over 1075.17 sq km which stretches in Hardwar, Dehradun and Pauri districts of Uttarakhand is known for its rich flora and fauna. The Chilla and Dhaulkhand ranges of the park offer a strong prey base of tiger – Cheetal, the spotted deer. The recent spotting of white spotted deer, Albino species, and its camera click has brought smiles to the foresters. White Sambhar, peafowl have also been spotted in the last few years in the park.
It is for the first time in RTR’s history that a white deer has been spotted by the forest officials in the Dhaulkhand range of the park and caught in the lens. Speaking to The Pioneer, wild life warden Haridwar Komal Singh said, “Three months ago, a white deer was seen moving in herd of spotted deer. Generally, the deer is brown in colour, but spotting of this white deer is rare. Range officer and his team had tried to catch the animal on camera, but as it is difficult to catch this shy and fast- moving animal, he could not succeed in capturing in camera.”
A white peacock had also been spotted a few years ago, say the foresters. “Rajaji Park has a variety of flora and fauna and is slowly emerging as international tourist hub. For tiger, one may have to try one’s luck, but brown spotted deer are a common sight as soon as one enters from the Chilla range of the park. This white spotted deer is now the major attraction in the Dhaulkhand range of the park, though it is difficult to sight, ” Komal Singh added.
A wild life expert Bivash Pandav who has been working mainly on tiger conservation projects says, “Cheetal (spotted deer) and Sambhar constitute the main prey of the tiger. After the relocation of the majority of the gujjars from the forest range to Gandikhata and other villages of Haridwar, the prey base of tiger has increased. The Chilla forest range area supports major prey base of the tiger, 22 to 24 per sq km of the forest area.”
“White coat colour is a recessive gene that occasionally manifests itself in the species. In the 1990s Bijendra Singh extensively documented a white spotted deer in Son Nadi wild life sanctuary. In 2003, both white Sambhar fawn and dove were spotted in Chilla range. Occasionally white Peafowl is seen which is difficult to spot. Nevertheless, it would be an added attraction to the tourists if they are able to spot the Albino,” said Bivash.