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Site description (2004 baseline):

Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary, an important IBA of Haryana State, was selected mainly for Biome-restricted species, as Kalesar represents the last stand of Broadleaf Deciduous Forest in the state. Kalesar is the largest wildlife sanctuary in Haryana covering 13,300 ha of the lower Shivalik in the Himalayan foothills. It is primarily Sal Shorea robusta forest of varying height and density and open scrub with broad, stony storm-watercourses, which are usually dry. The Yamuna River runs to the east. The site can easily be reached from Delhi via Yamunanagar (200 km) or from Dehra Dun or Chandigarh via Paonta Sahib. It is at the junction of the states of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal and Uttar Pradesh (Sharma 2002). The topography varies from plains to hills up to an elevation of 700 m, interspersed with narrow valleys locally called ‘khols’ between the hills. These valleys house seasonal rivulets locally called ‘soats’ which remain dry for most of the year. The Sanctuary has a number of natural and manmade waterbodies. It is linked by a metalled road with some villages located along the southwestern border of the Sanctuary.

AVIFAUNA: A total of 304 bird species have been reported from this IBA (Sharma 2002) and the site fully earns its IBA status. As Kalesar is located, just at the foothills of the Himalayas, locally called Bhabar, it is at the junction of two biomes: Sino-Himalayan Subtropical Forests (Biome-8) and Indo-Gangetic Plains (Biome-12). But as Kalesar is relatively dry, many species of Indo-Malayan Tropical Dry Zone (Biome-11) are also present. As can be seen from Table, Kalesar has more species of Biome-11 than Biome-12 or Biome-8. In winter, many species of Sino-Himalayan Temperate Forest (Biome-7) also descend to these forests, as passage migrants or to spend the winter. Some interesting birds reported by S. Sharma and B. Harvey (pers. comm. 2003) are Brown-fronted Woodpecker Dendrocopos nanus, Great Barbet Megalaima viridis, Great Hornbill Buceros bicornis, Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis, Bronzed Drongo Dicrurus aeneus, Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher Ficedula strophiata, Orange-flanked Bush Robin Tarsiger cyanurus, Eurasian Treecreeper Certhia familiaris, Grey-sided Bush Warbler Cettia brunnifrons, Lemon-rumped Warbler Phylloscopus chloronotus, Gold-spectacled Flycatcher Warbler Seicercus burkii, Black-chinned Babbler Stachyris pyrrhops, Whiskered Yuhina Yuhina flavicollis and Black-throated Accentor Prunella atrogularis. Kalsi (1998) studied this site from 1993-95 but his checklist contains only 161 species. There are a remarkable number of surprising omissions of species that are clearly common. There are also a few surprising inclusions (given the habitat) and where they have not been confirmed by later observers such as S. C. Sharma and Bill Harvey. One uncommon species, the Long-tailed or Rufous-vented Prinia Prinia burnesii, was described by Kalsi as a common resident but this would be the first location for it in Haryana. It is probably a case of mistaken identity (Sharma 2002). BirdLife International (2001) considers it as Near Threatened. This Prinia is found in long grasses, mainly in the vicinity of large rivers (Ali and Ripley 1987, Grimmett et al. 1998). Such habitat is lacking in Kalesar and adjoining areas. Kalesar’s relative accessibility and its position at the junction of the Indo-Gangetic Plains and the Western Himalayan make it likely that other species will be added. Indeed, recently Ruby-cheeked Sunbird Anthreptes singalensis and Snowy-browed Flycatcher Ficedula hyperythra have been found suggesting some range expansion westwards (Sharma 2002). Kalesar also has some globally threatened species as listed by BirdLife International (2001). These include Pallas’s Fish-Eagle Haliaeetus leucoryphus and Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga (Sharma 2002). It also has many Near Threatened species. Probably, pure breed of wild Red Junglefowl Gallus gallus is found in Kalesar but this needs further confirmation. Kaleej Pheasant Lophura leucomelanos is quite common.

OTHER KEY FAUNA: Kalesar forest harbours Leopard Panthera pardus, Sloth Bear Melursus ursinus, Hyena Hyaena hyaena among the large predators. Recently, pugmarks of Tiger Panthera tigris have been seen after a gap of several decades. Cheetal or Spotted Deer Axis axis, Sambar Cervus unicolor and Barking Deer Muntiacus muntjak are the common ungulates. Common Langur Semnopithecus entellus is also found.

MAIN THREATS: Invasion by exotic species; Burning of vegetation; Firewood collection; Livestock grazing.

Small villages are located along the southwestern border of the Sanctuary. The primary sources of livelihood of the people in these villages are animal husbandry and agriculture. Forest fires occur occasionally. Firewood collection is a problem. Invasion of the exotic weed Lantana camara has occurred along the fire lines and could spread to the interior of the forest. Rodgers and Panwar (1988) have suggested declaring 10,000 ha of core area as national park to further safeguard the dry deciduous forest and animal communities.

Key contributors: Suresh Sharma, Bill Harvey, Ram Jakati, Rajiv Kalsi and Nikhil Devasar.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary (India). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/kalesar-wildlife-sanctuary-iba-india on 22/11/2024.