Sardarpur Wildlife Sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh

Sardarpur Wildlife Sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh

Sardarpur Wildlife Sanctuary is a bird sanctuary located near Sardarpur Town in Sardarpur Taluk in Dhar District of Madhya Pradesh in Central India. This sanctuary is home to the highly endangered Lesser Florican Sypheotides indica, known locally as Kharmor (Grass Peacock). It is also one of the breeding habitats of Lesser Florican in India.

History

The sanctuary was established in 1983 on the recommendations of the renowned Indian ornithologist, Salim Ali for the protection of the critically endangered Lesser Florican (Sypheotides indica). A survey was conducted during 1981 by P. M. Lad, the then Director, Van Vihar, Bhopal, and later Conservator of Forests, on the recommendation of Salim Ali. During this survey, it was found that the Lesser Florican is present in around 14 villages in Sardarpur Taluk in Dhar District.

The Sanctuary

The sanctuary covers an area of about 348 sq kms. The sanctuary comprises a mosaic of grasslands and agricultural fields, providing crucial breeding and nesting grounds for the Lesser Florican during its breeding season from June to November.

Flora:

This sanctuary is part of the Khathiar-Gir dry deciduous forests ecoregion. The sanctuary is dominated by the grass species Sehima nervosum-Chrysopogon fulvus type. Other grass species found in the sanctuary are Heteropogon contortus, Apluda mutica, Cymbopogon martinii, Aristida funiculata, genera Brachiaria, Eragrostis, Dicanthium, Digitaria, Setaria, Bothriocloa and Pseudoanthistiria. The trees found in the sanctuary are Tectona grandis, Shorea robusta, Prosopis chilensis, Zizyphus jujuba, Acacia catechu and Butea monosperma. 

Fauna:

This sanctuary is home to the highly endangered Lesser Florican Sypheotides indica, known locally as Kharmor (Grass Peacock). The Lesser Florican is seen only during the breeding season. It arrives at the onset of monsoon by the end of June or beginning of July, and leaves by the end of October or in November. Some of the birds apart from the Kharmour found in the sanctuary are Eagles, Hawks, Vultures, Indian Roller, Common Hoopo, Painted Stork, Sarus Crane, Indian Peafowl and parakeets. The animals found in the sanctuary are Golden Jackal, Indian Fox, and Common Langur.

Connectivity

The sanctuary is located at about 1 Km from Sardarpur Bus Stand, 4 Kms from Rajgarh, 4 Kms from Rajgarh Bus Stand, 40 Kms from Dhar, 76 Kms from Barnagar Railway Station, 100 Kms from Indore Airport, 125 Kms from Ujjain, and 289 Kms from Ahmedabad. This sanctuary is situated close to Sardarpur on Indore to Ahmedabad road.

Location