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Chilla sanctuaries harbour about a third of the
State's elephant population. Hence the proposal to establish them as
Rajaji National Park and link it up with Corbett National Park by
means of elephant corridors. This will involve the construction of
two special bridges over the recently-made Chilla Power Canal and
the protection of suitable intervening forest habitat. Gujars are in
the process of being resettled in accordance with national park
policy (Gupta, 1986). A recent study suggests, however, that the
Gujars have not had such a detrimental effect on their habitat as is
commonly believed. The need to develop a compromise of joint
land-use for the benefit of the land, local people and wildlife,
rather than managing the area exclusively for
conservation purposes,
is emphasised (A. Clark pers. comm.).
CLIMATE
There are three seasons in
the Himalayan foothills: cool, hot and rainy. During the cool season
(November to February), days are warm (20-25*C), nights are cold and
humidity is low. Precipitation in December to February totals
50-150mm. Temperature rises rapidly to 40-48*C in the hot season
(March to June) and rainfall increases with the occasional
thunderstorm. Humidity is high in the rainy season (July to
October), with over 750mm of precipitation in July to August, and
there is little temperature variation (Singh, 1956). Annual rainfall
ranges from 1200-1500mm and mean monthly temperature from 13.1*C in
January to 38.9*C in May (Tiwari, 1986).
VEGETATION
Based on Landsat imagery for 1986, approximately 84% of the proposed
national park is forested. Some 65% of forested land is under 20%
crown cover inChilla Sanctuary, whereas a similar percentage of
forested land exceeds 50% crown cover in Motichur Sanctuary. Canopy
cover is intermediate for forests in Chilla Sanctuary (Tiwari,
1986).
Of the five
vegetation types of the Siwaliks, distinguished by Champion and Seth
(1968), four occur inChilla Sanctuary, namely: moist Siwalik sal (Shorea
robusta), dry Siwalik sal, northern dry mixed deciduous and
khair-sissu (Acacia catechu/Dalbergia sissoo) forest.
Details of species composition are given by A. Clark pers. comm.).
FAUNA
The area is important as the western limit of the Asian elephant
Elephas maximus (E). Other large mammals recorded inChilla
Sanctuary include rhesus macaque Macaca mulatta, langur
Presbytis entellus, golden jackal Canis aureus,
sloth bear Melursus ursinus (I), striped hyaena Hyaena
hyaena, leopard Panthera pardus (V), tiger P. tigris
(E), wild boar Sus scrofa, Indian muntjac Muntiacus
muntjak, spotted deer Cervus axis, sambar C. unicolor
and nilgai Boselaphus tragocamelus (A. Clark pers. comm.).
The goral Nemorrhaedus goral is also present (Green, 1987).
HOW TO GET
THERE
Rail
Nearest railway station is at Haridwar, 7 km.
Bus
Bus service operates between Haridwar and main tourist centre of the
sanctuary, Chilla.
LOCAL TRANSPORT
Elephants: available
for wildlife viewing.
WHERE TO
STAY
UTTARANCHAL Government Tourist Accommodation
Tourist
Lodge (UPSTDC) Chilla
Other
Accommodation
Forest Rest House, Chilla
Forest Rest
House, Laldhang
Forest Rest
House, Khara
Forest Rest
House, Kunao
Reservations:
Tourist
Officer, Haridwar
Director,
Chilla National Park, Dehradun.
EATING OUT
Dining facilities are
available at Chilla. |
