Melghat Tiger Reserve Details 2015, How to reach, FLOURA & FAUNA
Melghat is an abort of wild life which include 41 species of Mammals, 250 species of Birds, 24 species of Fish, 160 species of Reptiles and snakes and species of Lizard, amphibians etc.
Important Mamals are Tiger (Panthera tigris), Leopard (Panthera Pardus), Wild dog(Cuon alpinus), Jackal (Canis Aureus), Hyenae (Hyenal hynae), Sloth Bear ( Melursus ursiness), Gaur (Bos Gaurus), Sambar (Cervus unicolor), Barking Deer (Muntiacus muntjack), Chousinga ( Tetracerus Quadricornis), Spotted Deer(Cervus Axis), Nillgai(Bos Elaphus Tragocamelus), Wild Boar(Sus Scrofa), Common langur(Presbytis entellus), Rhesus Monkey(Macaca Mulata) and Black Naped Hare. The rare ones are Ratel(Mellivora Capensis), Other(Lutra Perspics Latta), Flying Squirrel(Petausista Petausista), Pangolin( Manis Crassicaudata), Caracal(Felis Caracal), Rustry Spotted Cat and Mouse Deer.
There are no villages in the core area. There are 61 villages in the Reserve - 22 in the buffer zone and 39 in the Multiple Use Area. Human population in the buffer zone and MUA is 9160 and 15506 respectively, as per 1991 census. The inhabitants are mainly tribal, largely Korku tribe (80 per cent) and others like Gond, Nihal, Balai, Gaolan, Gawali, Halbi, Wanjari, etc.
All inhabitants depend on forest for bonafied domestic need of firel wood, timber, fodder, medicinal plants, and non-timber forest like fruit, flowers, gum and medicinal plant part. There main source of income is from labor works and rainy season agriculture. They arguments through collection of non-timber forest produced like Mahuali, Flowers, Seeds, Charoli, Gumcula, Dhawada, Tendu-leaves, Musali ( Medicinal Plant). Lae Shade anchlor etc. There Food is enrich through rhisoms, fruits and other parts of the wild plant species. Fishing is a common hobby as well as daily routine activity protein suppliment. They sometime endelgene poisioning of water using part of plant species to kill fish they also endule end until of Sambar, Wild Beer, Gray Jungle Fallow, Pea Fall and harv ocasional.
Livestock Population : The livestock population of 22 villages in the buffer zones is 11024 and that of 39 villages in Multiple Use Area is 15642, as per census of 1994.
Fauna & Management
Protection and habitat management are the main inputs here. Issues related to high degree of man-animal conflict are tackled on a priority basis. The Reserve area has been divided into three zones for management purposes and to strike a balance between biodiversity conservation and ecologically sustainable community development.
Protection/Patrolling Squads: During monsoon, special protection squads carry out foot patrolling to curb the hunting of sambar and wild boar by the local people. Similar squads are established during the summer for fire protection works.
Village Forest Protection Committees: A Village Forest Protection Committee was established in the village Gullarghat which has taken up the responsibility of conservation of medicinal plants.
Eco-development : Eco-development activities on a pilot basis were taken up during 1992-97. Later, proper eco-development planning under the guidance of WII and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) was taken up. The response of the local people to eco-development is encouraging.
Education and Awareness : A Nature Education and Interpretation Centre has been established at Semadoh. Around 50,000 people visit this centre annually. Two orientation centres at Akot and Harisal, and an interpretation centre at Amravati are also planned.
Special Projects : Botanical Survey of India (BSI) was involved in preparation of the flora list of Melghat. Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) has completed a three-year survey of the area. Wildlife Institute of India (WII) has completed three-year research project on ‘Management of Biodiversity in Central India’. Another project on ‘Integrated Biodiversity Management in Satpura Hill Range’ has also been initiated.
Medicinal plant conservation area has been established with the help of Foundation for Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions (FRLHT), Bangalore.
Control of the Buffer : The buffer and the multiple use area are under dual control of three territorial divisions and the Reserve Management.
Staff : Of the 185 posts, 17 are vacant. Only two out of the seven Range Forest Officers are trained in wildlife management. The Research Officer (A.C.F.), foresters (23) and forest guards are not specially trained in wildlife management.
Grazing : No grazing exists in the core area. The remaining area is burdened with grazing pressures of 25,000 to 30,000 livestock heads. However, grazing is intense around the villages and in broad valleys, which are also better habitats for wild herbivores as these are the only sites where water is available.
Fire : There are few incidences (on an average 12 cases per annum) of fire in the core area, affecting 10 per cent of the area. Fires in the buffer and multiple use area of the Reserve are frequent. The grassy tops of the hills (locally called ballas) are prone to fire. The rugged terrain makes fire protection a difficult job. Almost 20 per cent of the area gets burns annually.
Poaching of Fauna and Flora : Poaching is rare in the core. The local people hunt sambar and wild boar. Collection of medicinal plants like safed musli Chlorophyllum tuberosum is also noticed.
Action Points: Immediate transfer of entire Reserve area along with staff under the administrative control of the Director. Finalisation of the legal status of Core and Buffer area as National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary respectively. Establishment of a strike force to strengthen protection. Rehabilitation of few villages from the buffer on priority basis. Eco-development in villages in the Multiple Use Area. Joint Forest Management. Staff orientation and training to improve the management capabilities and to provide them adequate essentialities to obtain their commitment. Building up of research and monitoring database to support conservation activities.
Tourism : A 40 sq. km. tourism zone has been established near Semadoh. During 1992-93 to
1996-97, on an average, about 6000 tourists availed of the tourism facility annually. Tourists visit the Reserve in the three available minibuses to view wildlife.
Important Links are given below :
Infrastructure and Facilities : The Nature education and interpretation centre at Semadoh has four dormitories (64 beds) 10 huts (20 beds) and tent facility. Tent facility (6 tents) has been established at 11 different places to facilitate trekking in the Reserve.
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