REPORT- Wildlife Inventory and Proposal for Sloth Bear Conservation Reserve in Marihan-Sukrit-Chunar Landscape of Mirzapur Forest Division, Uttar Pradesh

Over the past 7 years of its existence, Vindhyan Ecology and Natural History Foundation (VENHF) has been actively pursuing the cause of wildlife protection in the District Mirzapur which is facing an immense threat from land use land cover change owing to mining, encroachment and other human-induced activities. The Vindhya Bachao campaign has gathered enough traction in recent years due to its clear stand and success in saving some of the critical wildlife habitats using strong and credible scientific research and legal efforts. However, at every step, we felt that the major challenge in the protection of this landscape is the unawareness of wildlife diversity and lack of reliable inventory of faunal diversity found in this area.

In the year 2017, VENHF in association with WWF-India published a research report on Sloth Bears in Mirzapur, which for the first time mapped the distribution of Sloth Bears in the district and identified five forest ranges as critical wildlife habitats. It was suggested that such areas are highly vulnerable and require legal protection as ‘Protected Area’ to prevent the extinction of wildlife. The report was widely acclaimed by wildlife fraternity and for the first time, the forest of Mirzapur came to be recognized for its wildlife. The report was also acknowledged by Dr Harsh Vardhan, the then Minister of Environment, Forest & Climate Change in July 2017 who assured positive deliberation.

In the year 2018, VENHF, in collaboration with the Mirzapur Forest Division and with the funding support of Wildlife Trust of India-David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation, Earth Matters Foundation and crowdfunding platform Bitgiving- conducted the first-ever camera trap survey in three contiguous forest ranges (Marihan, Sukrit and Chunar) to prepare an inventory of wildlife animals never recorded in the past.

We are glad to share the long-awaited publication based on the survey which is titled as "Wildlife Inventory and Proposal for Sloth Bear Conservation Reserve in Marihan-Sukrit-Chunar Landscape of Mirzapur Forest Division, Uttar Pradesh" and is authored by Debadityo Sinha (Managing Trustee-VENHF) and Rakesh Chaudhary (DFO-Mirzapur Forest Division). Avinash Kushwaha, Sudhanshu Kumar and Mohit Chauhan were part of the research team and are also the contributing authors of this report. The camera trap survey was undertaken in the months of May-July 2018.

The Schedule I (WPA, 1972) animals recorded from these forest ranges are Sloth Bear, Leopard, Asiatic Wild Cat, Rusty Spotted Cat, Indian Wolf, Indian Gazelle, Blackbuck, Peafowl, Bengal Monitor and Mugger Crocodile.

Other important species recorded here are Striped Hyena, Jungle Cat, Red Fox, Golden Jackal, Sambar Deer, Spotted Deer, Ruddy Mongoose, Grey Mongoose , Palm Civet, Small Indian Civet, Bluebull, Wild Boar, Indian Crested Porcupine, Indian Hare, Five-striped Palm Squirrel, Hanuman Langur, Rhesus Macaque, Painted Spurfowl, Red Junglefowl and many other birds. Several species are recorded for the first time in the district as well as in the State.

The report has been acknowledged by leading wildlife experts like Mike Pandey (Ambassador-Govt. Of U.P., Wildlife & Environment), Prerna Bindra (Former Member-NBWL), Dr H.S. Bargali and Dr Nishith Dharaiya (IUCN Co-Chair, Sloth Bear Expert Team), Dr Faiyaz Khudsar (Scientist In-Charge, Yamuna Biodiversity Park) and Ananda Banerjee (Conservationist & Author).

The Foreword to the report is written by well-known wildlife scientist and Former Director of Bombay Natural History Society- Dr Asad Rahmani.

The report proves the presence of rich biodiversity in this neglected region. I hope the concern authorities will take appropriate measures, as suggested in the report, and make Marihan-Sukrit-Chunar Landscape of Mirzapur Forest Division as Sloth Bear Conservation Reserve. (Excerpt from the Foreword) ~ Dr Asad R. Rahmani

What the Experts are Saying about the Report?

Mike Pandey Ambassador- Govt. of Uttar Pradesh (Wildlife & Environment); Chairman, Earth Matters Foundation Prerna Bindra Writer and Former Member- National Board of Wildlife Ananda Banerjee Author & Wildlife Conservationist Dr Nishith Dharaiya Co-Chair, IUCN Sloth Bear Expert Team; Associate Professor at HLN Gujarat University Dr Faiyaz Khudsar Scientist In-Charge, Yamuna Biodiversity Park Dr H.S. Bargali Co-Chair, IUCN Sloth Bear Expert Team; Deputy Director-Corbett Foundation Testimonial 1 Testimonial 2 Testimonial 3 Testimonial 4 Testimonial 5 Testimonial 6

The report claims that the forest ranges proposed for Conservation Reserve (CR) are an ideal wildlife habitat of Vindhya landscape and are of extreme significance as it connects Eastern Kaimoor landscape (consisting of Ranipur WLS in U.P. and Son Gharial WLS, Sanjay Dubri Tiger Reserve and Bagdhara WLS in M.P). with Western Kaimoor landscape (consisting of Chandraprabha WLS of U.P. and Kaimur WLS of Bihar). With the help of this inventory, the authors have proposed for declaration of Conservation Reserve of approx 400 sq.km in the Forest Division. Some of the selected images from the camera trap survey are shared below. For more details on the landscape, wildlife history and the threats to the wildlife of Mirzapur, we urge our readers to download the report.

The report and its contents are published under open access license and can be downloaded from the link below.

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