| Flora-Fauna and National Chambal Sanctury |
Flora |
| The
forest blocks consist mostly of ravines and some flat waste lands. The Yamuna and Chambal
ravines are very old. It appears that the ravines have been formed due to relative level
of banks and their geological structure. The
pioneer work for the protection of land from erosion by planting forests had been taken up
as early as 1888 by Mr. Fisher, the then collector of Etawah(At that time, the present
Auraiya district was a tehsil of district Etawah). He induced the Zamidars
to permit the wastelands to be managed as single unit with a view to conserve timber. It
covered of about 2000 acres of area. This forest is said to be largely responsible
for saving Etawah city from the erosive action of the Yamuna.
The Total forest area (reserve and protected both) is
102.67 sq. km. which is 4.87 percent of the total geographical area 2017.6 sq. km.
According to Champion and Seth's classification the forests are "Northern Acacia
Scrub" type forests. The flora of Auraiya district comprise 560 species out of
it 123 species bear medicinal value like Arjun, Neem, Bel, Indra Jav, Babool and Arvsa.
The trees found in the district are of Dhak (Butea
monosperma), Aonla (Emblica officinalis), Arjun (Terminalia
arjuna), Ashok (Polyalthia longifolia), Asna (Terminalia alata),
Bahera (Terminalia bellirica), Bargad (Ficus bengalensis), Barhal
(Artocarpus lakoocha), Bel (Aegle marmelos), Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus
tereticornis), Gular (Ficus glomerata), Gul Mohar (Delonix
regia), Jamun (Suzygium cumini), Kaitha (Feronia limonia),
Kathal (Artcarpus heterophyllus), Khair (Acacia indica), Mahua
(Madhulka indica), Litchi (Naphelim litchi), Neem (Azadirachata
indica), Pipal (Ficus religiosa), Sagon (Tectona grandis),
Silver Oak (Grevilea robusta), Kala siris (Albizia lebbek), Safed
Siris (Albizia lebbek) and Shisham (Dalbergia sissoo). Grasses
like Dub (Cynedon dactylon), Baib (Enlaliopis bineta), Kans
(Saccharum spontaneum), and spear grass also found in the district. |
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| Fauna |
Mammals
The wild animals found in the portion of the district
lying north of the Yamuna are the same as those which occur throughout the Gangetic plan.
To the south of the Yamuna, in the wild broken country which flanks both it and the
Chambal, they are more varied. In the same localities hyaenas and wolves
are found though the latter have now much decreased in numbers. Large but diminished herds
of antelope range over the plains of the north and in the ravines give place to the rayino
gazella or chinkara (Has become extinct due to indiscriminate killing).
Sometimes a sambur or cheetal strays in front of contiguous portions of Gwalior; and here
and there in places between the Sengar and Yamuna and around Chichauli, Nilgai (Boselaphus
tragocamelus) are met with. The fauna of the district also include Indian foxes
(Vulpes bengalensis), jackals (Canis aureus), porcupines, monkeys
(nigicollis), wild cats (Felis chaus), hares (Lepus
ruficandatus) and otters and other numerous animals occur. Reptiles
In the rivers, crocodiles and turtles (aspidertes
gangeticus) abound, and tortoises, and other animals occur. Lizards
of all kinds abound from the large tree-climbing animals called gosamp to the
harmless house lizard; but snakes are not perhaps so aboundant as in other districts more
densely covered with vegetation. Thanatophidia, especially the cobra and karait
(bangarus caearulus) are continually met with. The other reptiles that are found
in the forest of district Auraiya are Ghariyal (gavialis
gangeticus), Indian Python (python molurus), and
SAL terropin (Kachuga Kachuga).
Birds
The commoner game birds comprise the gray partridge
smaller sandgrouse, snipe and many kinds of quail, the latter
affording excellent shooting when the ripe rabi crops are on the ground or in the arhar
fields close to waste lands overgrown with scrub vegetation. Neither the black nor the
painted partridge nor bustand occur except as rereties, but the small florican
is ocasionally found. Blue-rock pigeons are common. The green pigeon or bacial is
also found wherever there are pipal trees. During the winter months the jhils to the north
of the district are well stocked with the teal and various kinds of ducks, pochards,
sheldrakes and goose. The gray goose and brahminy duck are
however more common in the neighbourhood of the larger rivers, while the kuland is
met with but is not abundant. The district swarms with peacocks. The avifauna
include the well-known saras (crane), many kinds of herons and waders,
and all the usual varieties of doves, parakeet, sparrows, shrikes,
crows, rollers and other passerine birds.
Fish
The rivers and tanks of the district abound with fish. The rohu
grows to a size of from 8 to 10 Kg. and is commonly caught in Asarh or Sawan by means of
nots or with the ordinary rod and line. On the smaller rivers weirs are erected to
intercept this fish on its way down the stream : it is then stunned with the blow of a
lathi and captured. The mullet called arwari, is found in the Yamuna and weighs
nearly a quarter Kg. It swims in shoals and is caught from Phagun to Jeth by means of
east-nest with small moshes and is also occasionally shot with fine shot : its flesh is
esteemed a great delicacy.
The sing, a small fish about three or four inches
long, which derives its name from the spikes with which its head is furnished and which
are said to cause a painful wound, is caught in tanks, when the water becomes low, by
means of nets and wicker baskets; it is also much esteemed by Indians. The parhin
is caught in rivers and occasionally in tanks by means of weirs and nets : it grows to a
large size, often 8 to 10 Kilograms, and is a most vorneious fish. The saur is
usually caught by means of nets during the rains, weights about 0.25 Kg is
considered one of the best fish for eating. Other fish which are caught for the market are
the small bhur and the patharchatta; and in adition to these the mugri,
dingar, haren, bas, kalwas, chal, katiya, ghegra,
bighun, jhingra, grach, bam, papta, pariyasi, gudheya,
tengan, siland, and jhinga are found. From the larger species of
fish, such as the bas, siland and rohu, oil for burning is occasionally extracted.
With the exception of a few Brahmans, Rajputs, Banias and
Bhagats or devotees fish is generally consumed by all classes of the inhabitants, though
no portion of them can be said to submit entirely on a fish diet. As a general rule, fish
is partaken of as a relish or as an occasional change in the ordinary food. Fishing is
principally carried on the Mallahas and Kahars, but no class entirely adopts it as a sole
means of livelihood. |
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| National
Chambal Sanctury |
The
National Chambal Sanctury is famous for the rare Gagnetic dolphin. The Sanctury was
founded in 1979 and is a part of a large area co-administered by Rajasthan, Madhya
Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh. Apart from the Gagnetic dolphin, the other inhabitants of the
sanctury include magar (crocodile) and ghariyal (alligator), chinkara,
sambar, nilgai, wolf and wild bear. The santury's main
attraction 'Pachnada' (confluence of five rivers) is 30 kms. from Auraiya
city.
Crane |
Crocodile |
Turtle |
Ghariyal |
Indian Skimmer |
Ghungachai |
Kareel |
Spotted Owlet |
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How to get there ?
Air : The nearest airport is at Agra (180 kms.)
Rail : The nearest railhead is at Phaphund (20 kms.) and Etawah(65 kms.)
Road : The Sanctury is 30 kms. from Auraiya.
Contact
Divisional Forest Officer, National Chambal Sanctury, Agra.
Tel. # +91-562-320091
Divisional Forest Officer, Etawah Forest Division, Etawah. Tel. # +91-5688-54587
Divisional Forest Officer, Braj Bhumi Forest Division, Agra. Tel. # +91-562-360297 |
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