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• Wildfires have become frequent. Innocent formations and scenic environments. Rules
campfi res started by visitors have, more in these parks are as listed below.
oft en than not, led to menacing wildfi res. • Hunting, killing or capturing of fauna,
Th ese fi res not only kill animals, but also deprivation of any wild animal of its
destroy their natural habitat. habitat or the destruction and collection
• Water has become polluted for the of fl ora are all prohibited. Weapons are
animals due to the release of chemicals not allowed inside national parks. Th e
and other toxic effl uents. As a result, the only activities that can take place are the
animals and birds face fatal threats. activities related to the improvement and
• Poaching has been a direct threat to wildlife better management of wildlife protection.
for ages. Even aft er the establishment of Th ese are also to be handled by, or are
wildlife sanctuaries and national parks
under the control of, the park authorities.
with boundaries, the threat of poaching
• Grazing of any livestock is strictly
has not been totally eliminated.
prohibited.
Steps Taken by the Government for • Alteration of the boundaries of a national
Preservation of Flora and Fauna park can be made only by a resolution
passed by the legislature of the State.
• India has 18 biosphere reserves. Some
of the important reserves are the
Some Important National Parks
Sundarbans in West Bengal, Nanda Devi
Jim Corbett National Park
in Uttarakhand, the Gulf of Mannar in
Tamil Nadu and the Nilgiris bordering Th e oldest national park in India is the Jim
Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Th e Corbett National Park located in Nainital,
others being Nokrek, Great Nicobar, Uttarakhand. It was set up to protect the
Manas, Simlipal, Dihang-Dibang, Dibru endangered Bengal tiger. Th e park has 488
Saikhowa, Agasthyamalai, Kanchenjunga, diff erent species of plants and a diverse variety
Pachmari, Panna and Achanakmar- of fauna. Th e increase in tourist activity,
Amarkantak. among other problems, continues to present
• Project Tiger, Project Rhino, Project a serious challenge to the park’s ecological
Great Indian Bustard and many other balance. It was named aft er Jim Corbett who
eco-developmental projects have been played a very key role in the establishment
introduced for the revival of endangered of the national park in the 1930s.
species. Ranthambore National Park
• 89 national parks, 49 wildlife sanctuaries
Th e Ranthambore National Park, situated in
and zoological gardens have been
the Sawai Madhopur district of Rajasthan, is
established to preserve and protect the
one of the largest national parks in northern
natural heritage.
India. Ranthambore became a national park
in 1980. In 1984, the adjacent forests were
National Parks declared as the Sawai Man Singh Sanctuary
National parks are areas that have been set and Keladevi Sanctuary. Eventually in 1991,
aside for the protection and conservation the tiger reserve was enlarged to include these
of rare natural fauna, fl ora, geological two sanctuaries.
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