The renowned Tal Chhapar Blackbuck Sanctuary, located in Churu, Rajasthan, has recently been shielded against a proposed State government initiative to decrease its Eco Sensitive Zone (ESZ) size. Additionally, the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) has launched a significant project to conserve raptors within this sanctuary, which spans an area of 7.19 sq. km.
Tal Chhapar Sanctuary: A Brief Overview
Situated on the edge of the Great Indian Thar Desert, Tal Chhapar Sanctuary is a unique refuge for India’s most graceful antelope – the Blackbuck. Established as a sanctuary in 1966, Tal Chhapar was formerly a hunting reserve for the erstwhile royal family of Bikaner. The term “Tal” is a Rajasthani word that denotes plain land. This sanctuary possesses flat terrain and low-lying regions, interspersed with widespread Acacia and Prosopis plants, bestowing a unique Savanna-like appearance.
Prolific Wildlife at Tal Chhapar
Home to more than a thousand blackbucks, Tal Chhapar is an ideal site for observing desert wildlife and reptile species. The sanctuary hosts around 4,000 blackbucks, more than 40 species of raptors, and over 300 species of both resident and migratory birds. Migratory birds spotted in the sanctuary include harriers, eastern imperial eagle, tawny eagle, short-toed eagle, sparrow, and little green bee-eaters, black ibis, and demoiselle cranes. Notably, skylarks, crested larks, ring doves, and brown doves can be seen all year round.
Blackbucks: An Overview
The Blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra), otherwise known as the Indian Antelope, is native to India and Nepal. This antelope is spread across Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, and various other regions of peninsular India. Blackbuck is well-known for representing the epitome of grassland and is a diurnal creature, being mainly active during the day. As the State Animal of Punjab, Haryana, and Andhra Pradesh, it holds cultural importance: it symbolises purity in Hinduism, while in Buddhism, it stands as a luck charm.
Threats and Protection Status of Blackbucks
Despite their significant cultural and ecological value, blackbucks face threats such as habitat fragmentation, deforestation, natural calamities, and illegal hunting. They are included in Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972, listed as ‘Least Concern’ by IUCN, and categorized under Appendix III by CITES. Several protected areas have been established for their conservation, including Velavadar Blackbuck Sanctuary in Gujarat, Point Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu, and Blackbuck Conservation Reserve near Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.
Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs)
ESZs are areas designated by the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change under the Environment Protection Act, 1986. They aim to regulate certain activities around National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries to reduce their negative impacts on the fragile ecosystem surrounding the protected areas. In June 2022, a Supreme Court directive outlined that every protected forest, national park, and wildlife sanctuary should have a mandatory ESZ of at least one km, starting from their demarcated boundaries.
UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
In a 2020 question, Kanha National Park was confirmed to be a conservation area for the Indian swamp deer (Barasingha), which does well on hard ground and is exclusively graminivorous. The 2014 query on ‘Eco-Sensitive Zones’ indicated that these zones are not declared under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and their declaration doesn’t aim to ban all human activities except agriculture.