SORSAN: Herds of blackbuck, a schedule one animal that has been classified as near threatened by IUCN since 2003, and chinkaras graze around in an open grass field. At a distance, near a pond, migratory birds peck at the slightest ripple in the water. The grassland also plays host to lizards and foxes. Welcome to the new destination of eco-tourism at the Amalsara village in Sorsan, Baran. But the growing number of animals also demands better care and more watchful eyes.
Few months back that the forest department sent a proposal to the government asking them to declare the area as a conservation reserve. However, the proposal has been hanging balance and its effect can be seen on the grassland.
"As of now the area is a forest land but it does not have any status. We had sent a proposal about four months back to make the area a conservation reserve. Once that is done, we will be able to enforce the Wildlife Protection Act properly. There are about 16 villages surrounding the grassland and all their animals come here for grazing, which results into conflicts between the domestic and forest animals. Once the conservation reserve status is given we can stop them from coming here and enforce the laws better," says PD Gupta, district conservator of forest, Baran.
It's a wildlife lover's delight as 19.38 sq kms of grassland at this tiny hamlet plays a natural host to 1100 blackbucks, eight foxes and thousands of chinkaras and migratory birds. This land was received as compensation from an organization that took the forest and the waste land. And, this unending field is a literal example of how blackbuck, the state animal, can prosper even outside reserves and protected areas.
"Blackbucks were always present in this area but were spread out to numerous villages surrounding this field. What changed the fortunes was the unending perseverance of some community leaders along with our MLA from Sangod, Bharat Singh, about protecting the grassland. Once the field turned green, the blackbucks and chinkaras came out in large numbers from all the villages and began grazing here," says Mahaveer Prasad Choudhry, the horary warden and secretary of the Brahmani Mata Samity that carries out a voluntary work of protecting the animals from poaching.
The samity over the years has been able to procure funds to dig up waterholes in the grass land so that the animals do not go thirsty. Members of the samity also ensured that over the years poaching, the biggest threat to blackbucks was brought to a minimum. All these measures augured well and the population of the animals multiplied.
"Once the grass grows to about a foot long we can re-introduce the Great India Bustard (GIB)," he said adding that the proposal will be sanctioned soon.
However, Gupta's optimism was not reflected upon by the senior officers of the department. "That area is the only place where villagers can graze their cattle and so there has been a protest from them. Added to this are issues of encroachment. However, we are all interested in giving the area a conservation status but these issues have to be resolved before that," said the official.
