Appeal for action on Keoladeo Ghana National Park, Bharatpur

For anyone planning to visit this bird sanctuary, this is an email I just received from an Indian friend in Delhi.

If anyone is expecting to see thousands of ducks, geese, herons, egrets, storks, spoonbills, ibises etc then they are going to be mightily disappointed.

If however you want to potter around for a couple of days a lot of the dry area birds will still be there, as well as monkeys, spotted deer, nilgai and pythons.

Had been to there last week,yes no water ,if we expect thousands of birds then will be disappointed.
As one day stopover on the way to Jaipur TO Agra can try.

Radz

I went a year back there were lots of birds. It might still be worth if you are from Delhi but I hear it getting worse fast.

For the background to my post, see this thread from last year posted by bijapuri.

As posted by cyberhippie the release of water for the park seemed decided at the time. I wonder what happened?

I'm aware that there are competing demands for the available water but the reserve is a major source of employment for the town, as well as being one of the most important wetland reserves in the world.

I feel like sending emails off to all and sundry!

Feel So Sad !!!!

AlanD I think we should.. most fingers are being pointed at the CM of Rajasthan.

The birds are being eaten:
I read it in the papers today that finding no-place in the bird sanctuary the birds are taking refuge in un-protected areas around banks of Ganga and are being killed for food... Brajghat, western-UP is where the killing incidents are being reported and the authorities can't do anything One person who is fond of the foreign birds..even said "as the birds come from cold countries eating them gives us better protection for the cold"

I am totally shocked & confused. .

Politics politics!!
The truth of the matter is there was enough water in the reservior, both for the park and for the human/agricultural needs!!
The non release of the water was purely politics!!! The park has become a pawn in some mysterious political game that only a politician could understand!!
On a slightly more upbeat note I would still recommend a visit to the park as althought the cormerant and stork nurserys are missing the park still has much to offer for the bird watcher as well as a great selection of mammals like jungle cat, jackal, nilgai and spotted deer. You can see all these on any given day in the park and of course it's still the only park that allows you to freely wander around on a bicycle!!
Please support this park and the hotels around it as the tour groups have already abndoned it to a large extent leaving the local hoteliers struggling to make a living!!
Have a look, with or without the migratory birds this park still warrents a visit!!

Happy Traveling !1

I forgot to put the link in my previous post!

I agree with cyberhippie that the park is still worth a visit as I'm sure the park naturalists, rickshaw drivers and the hoteliers around the park are probably having a lean time. You just won't see the spectacular numbers of water birds that normally are found there at this time of year. You can still rent a bike, take a packed lunch and thermos of tea and explore the many side tracks that lead off the main metalled road that runs through the park. There's also the slim chance of seeing the tiger, thought to have made its way from Ranthambore, that's been hanging around the park for a couple of seasons now.

Is anyone actually aware of the "political" issues involved and, if so, can you explain them please?

What ashish says makes sense - if there is no water in the park then they go somewhere else where protection cannot be guaranteed. This could have a long term effect on the numbers of migrant birds arriving in the park in the future.

Any suggestions as to who to send an email to - CM of Rajasthan? Union Minister for Tourism? Local Bharatpur MLA? any others?

To the best of my understanding:

There was (as they say) shortage of water and options were 1)to keep the water for irrigation/farmers or 2)leave it for birds and the state govt. decided in favour of the farmers by leaving very little water for the birds. You see the birds don't vote, the people who come to watch them don't also vote (most of them don't vote in Rajasthan) and the farmers vote.

The key point analysis now is 'Is there really any shortage'? if No, 100% blame goes on the State Govt. and mesures should be taken to prevent further damage and repair the damage already done

The mails should be sent to all of the above and also to many more...our fellows will read only the mails where the copies are sent to many including to some international bodies. (Bhartpur is in the UN list of natural parks and protected areas)

http://www.sanctuaryasia.com/takeact...n_keoladeo.php

no water, I can't believe it . . .a crime!

the fort is worth a look, especially the evening puja, and there's a temple outside the walls with a croccodile goddess!

If you're in Delhi (and wanting to get a feel for the RaJ) the Imperial Hotel has a splendid collection of color lithographs of Bharatpur on the walls of the ground floor.

. . . Felt snubbed and ignored at afternoon tea, tho

pkalra

Thanks for posting the above link.

I think it deserves separate thread

As a frequent visitor to this internationally important wetland reserve ,I would appeal to all others on the forum who have visited and enjoyed the diversity of its birdlife, and those who are just interested in preserving India's wildlife generally, to take a couple of minutes and log on to this site, posted by our member pkalra.

http://www.sanctuaryasia.com/takeact...n_keoladeo.php

Just add your own personal comments in the space provided.

I'm not sure if this will make a difference but I hope someone is listening!