Ranthambore Crisis

Encroachment of Tiger Habitat :.....

  

- All pasture land around the park.
- Bhuri Pahari: 100 Bigha
- Khandar Area: Entire Khasara no.609
- Sanwata: 50 Bigha
- Mansingh Sanctuary: 3000 Bigha 1 bigha = 3025 square yards.

Exotic weeds are invading into the core area:

* Prosopis juliflora is an exotic tree species that crosses the physical boundary of the    park and has entered into the prime habitat of the tiger. It is a weed that has   degraded the natural ecosystem of the park.
* Prime Tiger Habitat has been converted into dense impenetrable thickets of the   mesquite.
* P. juliflora covers more then 60 Sq. Km. (20%) of the Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve.
* Now Parthenium is also invading the lake area of the park, which is    Ranthambhore's heartland.

Impact on fauna :

1. Highly susceptible thorns. A bad prick can cripple a healthy Tiger. The Mesquite infested area is inaccessible for the Tiger and other animals. Many birds have not yet learnt to tackle these alien thorns. Generally, they never nest in this tree.
2. Leaves of P.juliflora upsets the digestive system of ungulates.(because of the presence of strong alkaloids in leaves). Pods of the mesquite, which the ungulates relish, dislocate their jaw, thus reducing grazing efficiency.
3. This plant has been encroaching on the foraging grounds of the migratory birds in areas such as Gilai Sagar and Mansarovar lake.

In the name of the Tiger even the Tourism is mismanaged:

- Instead of using tourism as a tool for conservation
- in Ranthambhore tourism and conservation are actually at a loggerheads.