Latest news with #Sambar
Time of India
09-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
1k hectares grassland in Barda sanctuary to help more lions roar
Rajkot: Barda Wildlife Sanctuary in Porbandar district is steadily coming into its own as a natural extension of lion territory. Once a quiet reserve, Barda is now at the heart of a major conservation effort to create a self-sustaining habitat for Asiatic lions . The forest department has launched a project focused on restoring native grasslands and strengthening the prey base — laying the groundwork for lions to thrive here on their own. Spread across 1,000 hectares, the sanctuary is undergoing a green revival. Invasive plant species are being cleared on a large scale, and native grasses are being cultivated to support herbivores that form the base of the lion's food chain. According to the latest lion census, Barda is now home to 17 lions. The first — a solitary male — arrived naturally. Soon after, five lionesses were translocated to the sanctuary, and their successful mating led to the birth of 11 cubs. With this, Barda has proven itself as a naturally viable habitat. Forest officials have taken a hands-off approach, allowing the population to grow organically. The groundwork for this success was laid years ago. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Tecno Pova 7 Series starting at 12,999 - Catch the light. TECNO Mobile Buy Now Undo In 2014, the forest department set up a breeding centre for Sambar and spotted deer. Since then, hundreds of herbivores born in captivity have been released into the wild, helping to establish a solid prey base for the growing lion population. But restoring the landscape hasn't been easy. Deputy conservator of forests, Ravi Prasad Radhakrishna, pointed out that invasive species — such as single acacia (Acacia nilotica), Lantana camara, and Cassia tora — have posed a major challenge. "These alien species prevent native grasses from germinating," he said. "We've launched an intensive removal drive and are promoting native grass species to rebuild a healthy ecosystem for herbivores. " Experts believe birds may have unknowingly contributed to the spread of these invasives, either by carrying seeds on their feathers or excreting them after feeding elsewhere. "Barda is increasingly seen as Gujarat's second home for lions," Radhakrishna said. "With lions naturally dispersing into the area, we're shaping the habitat to support that expansion. In time, we expect the population to reach ecological saturation." The sanctuary now also hosts Nilgai and wild boar — adding further richness to the food chain. Officials believe Barda has the potential to support up to 40 to 50 lions in total. Recognizing its ecological promise, the forest department has also launched a jungle safari to boost eco-tourism and raise public awareness—inviting people to witness the quiet revival of a forest now finding its roar.
Time of India
05-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Another Gaur Killed on Ballarshah-Gondia Railway Track
Chandrapur: A fully grown Indian Gaur was killed after being hit by a passenger train on the Ballarshah-Gondia route on Friday evening. The accident occurred in Compartment No 474 under Junona range when train number 68816, travelling from Gondia to Ballarshah, collided with the animal. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now According to wildlife activists of Habitat Conservation Society, who visited the spot, the impact was so intense that the train dragged the gaur for nearly 120 metres, dismembering the body and scattering flesh and horns across the tracks. The train was reportedly briefly halted before it resumed its journey towards Chandrapur after remains of the Gaur were cleared of the track. This is the second such incident in recent months. A similar accident had occurred in February in Compartment No. 413, raising serious concerns over the safety of wildlife in the area. A few days back a pregnant Sambar was killed in similar collision with the speeding train on the same railway track. The Ballarshah-Gondia railway line passes through areas adjoining the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve and is a critical wildlife corridor connecting Kanhargaon Sanctuary, Kawal Sanctuary, and Umred-Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary to Tadoba. Conservationists note that the track connects ahead to the Balaghat-Nainpur section in Madhya Pradesh, where effective mitigation structures like underpasses and overpasses have been installed, however this track through Maharashtra lacks effective mitigation measures. Experts and environmental groups are urging the railway authorities in Maharashtra to adopt similar measures to prevent further loss of wildlife. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now While recommendations have been made to restrict train speeds to 50–60 kmph between 7 pm and 7 am in forested stretches, its implementation remains inconsistent. "Concrete action is the need of the hour. Mere proposals or committee discussions won't help unless they lead to on-ground changes," said president of Habitat Conservation Society, Dinesh Khate, Khate along with Kiran Bavaskar and Amit Deshmukh, visited the site and informed Junona Forest Range officials. Forest guard Gajanan Lute and other forest workers later visited the spot to complete the formalities.
