Jamwa Ramgarh Wildlife Sanctuary
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| Jamwa Ramgarh Wildlife Sanctuary | |
|---|---|
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area) | |
 | |
  Location in Rajasthan, India  Jamwa Ramgarh Wildlife Sanctuary (Rajasthan) | |
 Interactive map of Jamwa Ramgarh Wildlife Sanctuary | |
| Location | Jaipur district, Rajasthan, India |
| Nearest city | Jaipur |
| Coordinates | 27°02′52″N 76°03′20″E / 27.04778°N 76.05556°E |
| Area | 300 km2 (120 sq mi) |
| Established | 1982 |
| Governing body | Rajasthan Forest Department |
Jamwa Ramgarh Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area situated about 35 km northeast of Jaipur in the Jaipur district of Rajasthan, India. Established in 1982, the sanctuary covers approximately 300 km² in the Aravalli Range and encompasses the now-dry Ramgarh Lake basin and surrounding forests.[1][2]
The sanctuary’s terrain is a mosaic of dry deciduous forests, rocky hills and grasslands. It surrounds Ramgarh Lake—once a 15.5 km² reservoir supplying Jaipur, now largely dried up since 2000. The Banganga River, rising in the Bairath hills, cuts across the sanctuary, sustaining patches of riparian vegetation.[3]
History
Flora
The sanctuary’s vegetation is typical of the dry tropical forests of the Aravallis. Prominent species include:
- Dhok (Anogeissus pendula)
- Imli (Tamarindus indica)
- Aam (Mangifera indica)
- Jamun (Syzygium cumini)
- Tendu (Diospyros melanoxylon)
- Bahera (Terminalia bellirica)
- Arjun (Terminalia arjuna)
- Siris (Albizia lebbeck)
- Churel (Holoptelea integrifolia).[6]
Fauna
Mammals recorded include leopard (Panthera pardus), striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena), Indian jackal (Canis aureus), jungle cat (Felis chaus), wild boar (Sus scrofa), chital (Axis axis), sambar (Rusa unicolor), nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus) and chinkara (Gazella bennettii).[7] Avifauna exceeds 200 species, including Indian peafowl (Pavo cristatus), crested finch-lark (Spizocorys lark), plum-headed parakeet (Psittacula cyanocephala), and white-bellied drongo (Dicrurus caerulescens).[8] Several migratory and threatened birds are also reported.[9] Tigers also have been sighted in the sanctuary[10]
Conservation challenges
Illegal mining for marble and soapstone within and around the sanctuary has degraded nearly 32 km² of habitat, threatening both wildlife and local communities.[11]