River Chambal- Flora & Fauna

 office building, river

Flora

The forest blocks consist mostly of ravines and some flat waste lands. The Yamuna and Chambal ravines are very old. It appears that the ravines have been formed due to relative level of banks and their geological structure. Unfit for any other use, the vast areas under ravines come under heavy grazing and and reckless hacking. this subsequently accelerated the erosion and extinction of woodland wherever it was existing. Later, for protection of the ground from erosion and further deterioration and for the creation of fuel and fodder reserves the area was closed to grazing, and babul, sissoo and neem were sown. The waste lands were previously the property of the Zamidars and were generally devoid of any tree or shrub growth. They were scattered all over in small or big patches near villages or along the river banks and were grazing grounds for the cattle of neighbouring villages. After the abolition of Zamidari the state government transferred to the forest department large tracts of land where plantation was possible.
The pioneer work for the protection of land from erosion by planting forests had been taken up as early as 1888 by Mr. Fisher, the then collector of Etawah. He induced the Zamidars to permit the wastelands to be managed as single unit with a view to conserve timber. It covered of about 2000 acres of area. This forest is said to be largely responsible for saving Etawah city from the erosive action of the Yamuna.

The Total forest area (reserve and protected both) is 301.04 sq. km. which is 12.52 percent of the total geographical area. According to Champion and Seth's classification the forests are "Northern Acacia Scrub" type forests. The flora of Etawah district comprise 560 species out of it 123 species bear medicinal value like Arjun, Neem, Bel, Indra Jav, Babool and Arvsa.

The trees found in the district are of Dhak (Butea monosperma), Aonla (Emblica officinalis), Arjun (Terminalia arjuna), Ashok (Polyalthia longifolia), Asna (Terminalia alata), Bahera (Terminalia bellirica), Bargad (Ficus bengalensis), Barhal (Artocarpus lakoocha), Bel (Aegle marmelos), Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus tereticornis), Gular (Ficus glomerata), Gul Mohar (Delonix regia), Jamun (Suzygium cumini), Kaitha (Feronia limonia), Kathal (Artcarpus heterophyllus), Khair (Acacia indica), Mahua (Madhulka indica), Litchi (Naphelim litchi), Neem (Azadirachata indica), Pipal (Ficus religiosa), Sagon (Tectona grandis), Silver Oak (Grevilea robusta), Kala siris (Albizia lebbek), Safed Siris (Albizia lebbek) and Shisham (Dalbergia sissoo). Grasses like Dub (Cynedon dactylon), Baib (Enlaliopis bineta), Kans (Saccharum spontaneum), and spear grass also found in the district.


Fauna

Mammals
The wild animals found in the portion of the district lying north of the Yamuna are the same as those which occur throughout the Gangetic plan. To the south of the Yamuna, in the wild broken country which flanks both it and the Chambal, they are more varied. In the same localities hyaenas and wolves are found though the latter have now much decreased in numbers. Large but diminished herds of antelope range over the plains of the north and in the ravines give place to the rayino gazella or chinkara (Has become extinct due to indiscriminate killing). Sometimes a sambur or cheetal strays in front of contiguous portions of Gwalior; and here and there in places between the Sengar and Yamuna and around Chichauli, Nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus) are met with. The fauna of the district also include Indian foxes (Vulpes bengalensis), jackals (Canis aureus), porcupines, monkeys (nigicollis), wild cats (Felis chaus), hares (Lepus ruficandatus) and otters and other numerous animals occur.
Reptiles
In the rivers, crocodiles and turtles abound, and tortoises, and other animals occur. Lizards of all kinds abound from the large tree-climbing animals called gosamp to the harmless house lizard; but snakes are not perhaps so aboundant as in other districts more densely covered with vegetation. Thanatophidia, especially the cobra and karait are continually met with.

Birds
A variety of birds are found in the district. The most common among the game birds is the partridge (Francolines pondicerianus) which occurs everywhere and is locally known as titar. Other types of partridge, such as kala titar or black partridge (Francolines vulgaris), gray parridge (Francolines Pondicerianus are found near the forests. Among the quails the most common are the bater (Coturnix communis) and the lava (Perdicula asiatica) which are usually found in the bushes. Neither the black nor the painted partridge nor bustand occur except as rereties, but the small florican is ocasionally found. Blue-rock pigeons are common. The green pigeon or bacial is also found wherever there are pipal trees. During the winter months the jhils to the north of the district are well stocked with the teal and various kinds of ducks, pochards, sheldrakes and goose. The gray goose and brahminy duck are however more common in the neighbourhood of the larger rivers, while the kuland is met with but is not abundant. The district swarms with peacocks. The avifauna include the well-known saras (crane), many kinds of herons and waders, and all the usual varieties of doves, parakeet, sparrows, shrikes, crows, rollers and other passerine birds.

Fish
The rivers and tanks of the district abound with fish. The rohu grows to a size of from 8 to 10 Kg. and is commonly caught in Asarh or Sawan by means of nots or with the ordinary rod and line. On the smaller rivers weirs are erected to intercept this fish on its way down the stream : it is then stunned with the blow of a lathi and captured. The mullet called arwari, is found in the Yamuna and weighs nearly a quarter Kg. It swims in shoals and is caught from Phagun to Jeth by means of east-nest with small moshes and is also occasionally shot with fine shot : its flesh is esteemed a great delicacy.

The sing, a small fish about three or four inches long, which derives its name from the spikes with which its head is furnished and which are said to cause a painful wound, is caught in tanks, when the water becomes low, by means of nets and wicker baskets; it is also much esteemed by Indians. The parhin is caught in rivers and occasionally in tanks by means of weirs and nets : it grows to a large size, often 8 to 10 Kilograms, and is a most vorneious fish. The saur is usually caught by means of nets during the rains, weights about 0.25 Kg is considered one of the best fish for eating. Other fish which are caught for the market are the small bhur and the patharchatta; and in adition to these the mugri, dingar, haren, bas, kalwas, chal, katiya, ghegra, bighun, jhingra, grach, bam, papta, pariyasi, gudheya, tengan, siland, and jhinga are found. From the larger species of fish, such as the bas, siland and rohu, oil for burning is occasionally extracted.

With the exception of a few Brahmans, Rajputs, Banias and Bhagats or devotees fish is generally consumed by all classes of the inhabitants, though no portion of them can be said to submit entirely on a fish diet. As a general rule, fish is partaken of as a relish or as an occasional change in the ordinary food. Fishing is principally carried on the Mallahas and Kahars, but no class entirely adopts it as a sole means of livelihood.


National Chambal Sanctury

The National Chambal Sanctury is famous for the rare Gagnetic dolphin. The Sanctury was founded in 1979 and is a part of a large area co-administered by Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh. Apart from the Gagnetic dolphin, the other inhabitants of the sanctury include magar (crocodile) and ghariyal (alligator), chinkara, sambar, nilgai, wolf and wild bear.