Online booking for Dudhwa tour

Hope augurs for endangered species

LUCKNOW: The intensive camera trappings at the Dudhwa tiger reserve have sprung up another surprise. For the first time, two packs of striped hyenas have been sighted in the reserve, thereby ushering hope for the endangered species."This is the first confirmed presence of striped hyena in Dudhwa. It is known to exist in the Vindhyachal and Bundelkhand region," said deputy director, Dudhwa tiger reserve, VK Singh. The striped hyenas have been sighted in two ranges of the reserve — Sathiana and Bankati.The animal is protected under Schedule (III) of the Indian Wildlife Act (1972) owing to threat to its habitat and shortage of food.Wildlife enthusiasts see it as a signal of terai grasslands slowly becoming home to endangered, rare and migratory species. Earlier, Schedule (I) species like bengal floricans and elephants, and non-resident large Indian civet and king cobra were also sighted in the terai belt. The latest tiger census has also shown higher count of the big cat in the Dudhwa reserve.Former director of Project Tiger, RL Singh, termed the sightings as a significant development for the reserve. "Hyenas' existence is supported by primary level hunters like tigers, leopards, wolves and jackals. If hyena number is increasing it shows that primary level hunters too are growing in numbers," said Singh.Hyenas eat leftovers by primary level hunters. Jackals have already been recorded hunting cheetals in Dudhwa. And now hyena also being spotted, Dudhwa is gradually becoming a home for secondary level carnivores as well. "Hyena has a strong jaw. It's the only animal which can crush the bone of buffaloes," said Singh added.The growth in human settlements near the Dudhwa reserve could also be the reason behind the presence of hyenas in terai region. Hyenas feed on animal carcasses and are known to exist closer to human settlements or areas with cattle population.At least 22 Tharu villages along the Dudhwa and vast sugarcane fields near its boundary provide enough food for scavengers. "We will depend on Wildlife Institute of India to help us study the findings of ongoing census and data collected by us," said Dudhwa's deputy director.The tourist season for Dudhwa reserve begins on November 15. From this year, visitors can also make online bookings for rest houses or tharu huts. Booking would be done through gateway system where people will first have to make the payment and then book their stay or tour. The administration is working to put the system in place by November 15.Two packs of endangered striped hyena spotted in DudhwaSighted in Sathiana and Bankati ranges of the reserveHyenas are scavengers feeding on leftoversHuman settlements near Dudhwa attract hyenas