Site description (2004 baseline):
AVIFAUNA: More than 320 species of birds have been recorded from the Park (Harvey 2003). This is a very important wintering ground for waterfowl. In years of adequate rainfall, it has supported over 20,000 individuals of migratory, birds but in the period 2000-03, the total never exceeded 3,000. The transient nature of the ecosystems at Sultanpur probably explains this high percentage of “old” records as much as real scarcity of species. Water levels are a major factor and there have been lean years recently. In 2002, regular winter pumping restored the jheel to its former glory and it is planned to continue with this. When water is inadequate, there is much interchange of birds with the nearby and more reliable wetlands at Basai (8 km east) and Bhindawas (30 km west) (both IBAs), particularly of raptors and larger waterbirds. Other factors for the decline of waterfowl and some other species include the growth in trees to the exclusion of scrub, the thick tall growth of grass when water is shallow or absent and the encroachment of agricultural fields (Harvey 2003). This IBA has a significant waterbird breeding colony, including Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala (50 pairs), Darter Anhinga melanogaster (8 pairs) and Black-headed or Oriental White Ibis Threskiornis melanocephala (50 pairs), all considered Near Threatened by BirdLife International (2001). The adjoining dry flats are important wintering grounds for several lark and wheatear species, while there are breeding populations of Indian Courser Cursorius coromandelicus, Yellow-wattled Lapwing Vanellus malabaricus and Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse Pterocles exustus. Recent unusual visitors are Stolizcka’s Bushchat Saxicola macrorhyncha (in 2001) Cream-coloured Courser Cursorius cursor (in 2002) and the Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni (in 2003) (Harvey 2003). The Park also qualifies A4i criteria as it regularly holds more than 1% biogeographic populations of some species. For example, Wetlands International (2002) estimates that the non-breeding population of Greylag Goose (subspecies rubrirostris), which breeds in Central Asia and winters in Central and South Asia, is about 15,000. Therefore, its 1% would be 150. Twice this number are seen in Sultanpur.
OTHER KEY FAUNA: There is no large wild mammal of conservation concern in this Park. Nilgai Boselaphus tragocamelus is the major wild ungulate.
Golden Jackals Canis aureus are still common, although the Park is now surrounded by rapidly growing urban colonies. How long they would survive, it is only a question of time. No information is available on reptile and amphibian fauna.
The climate and soil in the environs of Sultanpur Jheel are not conducive to the existence of permanent waterbodies. In recent years of low rainfall, only a few pools remain by mid winter and the jheel is predominantly dry. Land use practices in the catchment areas have impeded the natural flow of water into the lake. Pumping in ground water has been undertaken since 2001 to maintain some waterfowl habitat during the winter. However, due to urbanisation and industrial development in the surrounding areas, water, an increasingly scarce commodity, has been diverted to the rapidly growing urban areas around the Park. This, along with monsoon failure, has resulted in the lake remaining dry for long periods in recent years. While the core area of the lake (143 ha) is under the jurisdiction of the Haryana Forest Department, the buffer zone is under private or Gram Panchayat or village council control. These areas are cultivated, heavily grazed and for the most part heavily degraded. The buffer zone has 17 villages, grazing and collection of aquatic vegetation for thatching and fodder is rampant. Tourist activity causes a high level of disturbance. Siltation due to soil erosion in the catchment area and windblown dust is on the increase. Mining of sand for the nearby brick and quick lime industries is also a major concern.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Sultanpur National Park (India). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/sultanpur-national-park-iba-india on 23/12/2024.