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AGAMA LIZARD

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Dung Beetle in Jalore Wildlife Sanctuary

The Jalore Wildlife Sanctuary is an unpopulated sanctuary (no villages inside the sanctuary) nestled between a human dominated landscape among one of the best biodiversity places in the Thar Desert of Rajasthan, India. It harbours great numbers of plant species along with various animals species completely dependant on them. This unique type of plant-animal interaction makes a perfect spot to study and understand the dynamics of a fragile semi-arid desert eco system. 

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SENNA Cassia acutifolia, 
Plant mainly used for main intergradient of Kayam Churna.

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FLOWERING TREES IN THE SITAMATA JUNGLE

The Thar Desert is the world's most populated desert (147 persons per km., 2001 census), and this human and livestock population has registered a phenomenal upsurge in the Thar Desert during the last few decades. The human population has escalated in western Rajasthan from 3.4 million at the first census to 15.82 million in 1991 and 22.49 million in 2001. As a consequence of increased cropping area, the grazing area for livestock has reduced by about 50% to 60%. The ever-increasing numbers of livestock have deprived the wild herbivores from their natural food. Some useless invasive plants have replaced most of the perennial highly palatable and nutritive plant species. Man's continuing intervention in the fragile ecosystem of the Thar Desert, is the main cause for depletion of its rich biodiversity. In the 19^th century, the Thar Desert had various wild mammalian species in good numbers even the Asiatic lion (Panthera leo) and Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) too. The glory of the Thar Desert is becoming lost with the greed and developmental activities of man. Another major reason for decline of biodiversity in the Thar Desert, especially in the xeric species, is the expansion of irrigated agriculture area. Many of the specialized forms of plants and animals associated with the Thar Desert will eventually vanish due to different human activities unless action is taken now.

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THE ENDANGERED ARBUTHNOTIANA VANDA ORCHID

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FROGS DURING MONSOON

The animal life is rich in the Jalore Wildlife Sanctuary, including Leopard (Panthara pardus) as a top predator along with a formidable population of the sub species of Jungle cat (Felis chaus kutus) and one of the largest strongholds of the Asian Steppe Wildcat (Desert Cat) (Felis silvestris ornata) in this semi-arid desert landscape. Hyena (Hyeana hyeana), Sloth Bear (Melursus ursinus) and Desert Fox/ sub species of Red Fox (Vulpus v. pussila) are also important scavenger and omnivorous resident wild animals.

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LIZARD

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BATS

The sanctuary is also very rich in the diversity of plant life, including xerophytes Acacia jacquemontii, Balanites roxburghii, Ziziphus zizyphus, Ziziphus nummularia, Calotropis procera, Prosopis cineraria (Khejri tree), Crotalaria burhia, Aerva tomentosa, Leptadenia pyrotechnica, Maytenus emarginata, Tribulus terrestris, Leptadenia pyrotechnica (Khimp shrub), Aerva tomentosa (Bui herb), Acacia nilotica (Babul tree), Tecomella undulata (Rohida tree), Salvadora oleoides (Pilu tree), Cenchrus biflorus (Bharut grass), and many more plant species.

Dr. Sumit Dookia Ph. D. (Zoology)

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COMMON GEZEBEL

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LION ANT

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STICK INSECT

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Pug and print marks of Sloth Bear (Center), Striped Hyena (left), and Jungle Cat (above) at Hyena Gulch – Jalore Wildlife Sanctuary

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Print of Indian Porcupine at Leopard Point – Jalore Wildlife Sanctuary

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Wild Boar markings in Jalore Wildlife Sanctuary

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Preying Mantis nest in Jalore Wildlife Sanctuary