The recent clash between Van Gujjars and Uttarakhand forest officials in the Rajaji National Park has once again thrown the spotlight on the contentious relationship between forest-dwelling communities and government authorities. This incident brings to focus various aspects of the park, including its location, background, features, the Van Gujjar community, and other protected areas in Uttarakhand.
Location of Rajaji National Park
Located in Haridwar, Uttarakhand along the foothills of the Shivalik range, Rajaji National Park spans 820 square kilometres. The park is a significant part of the local ecosystem and contributes immensely to biodiversity.
History of Rajaji National Park
In 1983, three sanctuaries in Uttarakhand, namely Rajaji, Motichur, and Chila, were merged into a larger protected area named Rajaji National Park. The park honours C. Rajgopalachari, a notable freedom fighter better known as “Rajaji.”
Features of Rajaji National Park
Rajaji National Park holds the North Western Limit for the habitat of Asian elephants and boasts a variety of forest types, including sal forests, riverine forests, broad–leaved mixed forests, scrubland, and grassy patches. It is home to as many as 23 mammal species and 315 bird species, including elephants, tigers, leopards, deer, and ghorals, among others. The park was granted the status of a Tiger Reserve in 2015. Interestingly, the park also serves as a winter home for the Van Gujjars community.
Van Gujjars – A Forest Dwelling Community
The Van Gujjars are one of the few forest-dwelling nomadic communities in India. Generally, they migrate to the upper Himalayan grasslands, or bugyals, with their buffaloes and return to their makeshift huts, known as deras, in the foothills only after the monsoons end. The Van Gujjars inhabit the foothills of Himalayan states like Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Their traditional practice of buffalo husbandry sees each family owning up to 25 buffalo heads. This community relies heavily on buffaloes for milk, which is sold at profitable prices in the Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh markets.
Other Notable Protected Areas in Uttarakhand
Besides Rajaji National Park, Uttarakhand also hosts several other nationally significant protected areas. One such area is the Jim Corbett National Park, which holds the distinction of being India’s first national park. Additionally, the state is home to the Valley of Flowers National Park and the Nanda Devi National Park, which are collectively recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Other protected areas include the Govind Pashu Vihar National Park and Sanctuary, the Gangotri National Park, and the Nandhaur Wildlife Sanctuary.
Last Modified: February 7, 2024