Planning to increase the rapidly declining population of the sparrows, Gurugram may soon have its first breeding centre to increase their numbers in the district. The second centre will be developed in Pinjore near Chandigarh.
The forest department of Gurugram has sent a proposal to the State Government to develop a dedicated breeding centre in Bhondsi nature camp. The breeding camp will be developed on 2 to 3 acre and the estimated cost of the each project would be around Rs 55 lakh.
According to the department officials, the centre will be developed with the aim of spreading public awareness about the State's wildlife and nature. A study conducted in 2011 on sparrows in Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR) pointed to an alarming decline in the population of sparrows in the entire region.
"Now the time has come to think of a breeding camp by insemination method. Gurugram developed in such a way and there is no space for wildlife and it's not possible for birds to breed in houses. So a controlled breeding centre would be more conducive to these birds, Divisional Wild life Officer, Shyam Sunder said.
Although there are no concrete data on the rapidly declining population of the birds, officials claimed that about 80 per cent of sparrows had already disappeared from the entire area.
The State forest department has embarked upon this plan to increase the population of these little birds lest they disappear totally. "The design of the breeding camp would be familiar with sparrows nature in order to attract the birds to build nests," the officer, said.