Site description (2004 baseline):
AVIFAUNA: The Sanctuary, with perennial waterbodies and streams supports dense forest cover. More than 200 bird species are reported (Sharma 2002, Chhangani 2002). The threatened bird species are Sarus Crane Grus antigone and Indian Skimmer Rynchops albicollis, reported by Sharma (2002) and Chhangani (2002) respectively. Kumbalgarh is an excellent representative of the natural vegetation and avifauna of the Aravalli. Twenty five out of 59 bird species of Biome-11 (Indo-Malayan Tropical Dry Zone) are found here. The site was selected on the basis of criteria A3 (Biome restricted assemblages), although some threatened species are also found.
OTHER KEY FAUNA: Among the large mammals, the Sanctuary harbours Leopard Panthera pardus, Sloth Bear Melursus ursinus, Wild Boar Sus scrofa, Sambar Cervus unicolor, Spotted Deer Axis axis, Chinkara Gazella bennettii, Four-horned antelope Tetracerus quadricornis and Bluebul Boselaphus tragocamelus Common Langur Semnopithecus entellus is a commonly seen primate of the Sanctuary. Grey Wolf Canis lupus, Golden Jackal C. aureus, Hyena Hyaena hyaena, Indian Fox Vulpes bengalensis, Pangolin Manis crassicaudata, Porcupine Hystrix indica, Mongoose Herpestes edwardsii and Black-naped Hare Lepus nigricollis are the more commonly observed smaller mammals.
Due to village settlements in adjacent areas, activities such as collection of firewood, illegal felling of trees and poaching are known to occur inside the Sanctuary area. Strict patrolling is needed to prevent such activities. Awareness campaigns are required to control poaching and killing of animals. The Muchalla Maharaj Temple Trust is helping the Forest Department to look after the injured animals inside the Sanctuary, as well as the other wild fauna. The Trust has opened a small hospital to provide medical aid to the animals in and around the Sanctuary. The site has very rich flora with dense cover in the core area, which has not yet been studied due to its remote undulating landscape. This area needs field surveys to document the fauna and flora. Rodgers and Panwar (1988) have strongly recommended establishment of at least a 20,000 ha national park as core area to prevent biotic pressures, and also have important water conservation benefits locally.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Kumbalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary (India). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/kumbalgarh-wildlife-sanctuary-iba-india on 14/12/2024.