The Hindu Business Line : Safari in Kashmir

After serving as an exclusive game and recreation reserve for the past 90 years, the famous Dachigam National Park near Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir has been thrown open to the public with the introduction of a mini-safari service by the wildlife authority.

Recently, Jammu Kashmir Tourism Development Corporation donated three electric-driven cars to the park for the mini-safari service, which has been an instant hit with the locals as well as visitors.

The park is home to several rare species, including the critically endangered hangul — the last surviving species of the Asiatic red deer. There are only 160 hanguls left in the world and all of them are in this natural park.

If lucky, a visitor can also spot the Asiatic black bear, brown bear, leopard, musk deer, marmot, red fox, Himalayan grey langurs, jackals, Himalayan weasel, yellow-throated martens, jungle cats, long-tailed marmot, otters, reptiles, insects, butterflies and other such rare animals and unique flora.

Spread over 141 sq km, the Dachigam park was established as a protected area in 1910 by the then Maharaja of Kashmir. At that time the government had to relocate ten villages for the park and thus the name Dachigam (ten villages) stuck. The park used to be a favourite with the Maharaja of Kashmir prior to 1947 and later among chief ministers and other dignitaries.

Dachigam was declared a national park in 1951 and is usually open throughout the year, although the period between May and September is regarded as prime viewing season.

Eco-tourism

The 3.5-km safari offers visitors a glimpse into the rich biodiversity of the park. Wildlife warden Rashid Y. Naqash says the initiative is part of the growing trend of eco-tourism in the Valley. “We have lots to offer tourists other than the usual hustle bustle of the gardens and hill-stations, and people are delighted to see this Himalayan paradise which was otherwise off-limits to the majority,” says Naqash.

The tourism department and wildlife authority hope that the experience gained from this venture will help them launch similar efforts elsewhere in the State.

While counting the benefits of electric cars, Naqash says the battery-operated vehicles cause zero pollution. “They also don’t make noise, so there is no question of disturbing wildlife.”

Bird watching

Bird-watching is an added attraction of the safari. At least 150 species of birds can be spotted at the park, with the numbers and species varying with each passing season. Cinnamon sparrows, black bulbuls, Himalayan monals, golden orioles and minivets are among the birds found here. There are at least three viewpoints along the route that are ideal for bird-watching.

The mountainsides consist of dense coniferous forests of broad leaf species. There are alpine pastures, meadows, waterfalls and scrub vegetation with deep gullies, locally known as Nars, running down the mountain-face.

With the exception of harsh winters, most of the grasslands and meadows are normally covered with brightly coloured flowers.

The visitors to the park comprise locals, tourists, researchers, scientists, students, teachers and nature lovers.

Altaf Ahmad, who went on the safari with his daughter on one of the electric cars, said that the experience was truly amazing. “It was thrilling to see a herd of hanguls grazing inside the park,” he said excitedly.

The rides cost Rs 125 a person and includes bird-watching facilities, visit to a trout-rearing farm, animal rescue centre and auditorium. Using the mini-safari, authorities also want to increase general awareness on wildlife and environment issues.

“Visitors are also shown films about wildlife and environment and taken to the animal rescue centre to learn more about wild animals,” says Naqash.

Criticism faced

Some environmentalists have criticised the move to start the mini-safari at the national park. They fear that the arrival of tourist hordes can be detrimental for the critically endangered hangul and other species.

But authorities counter this by saying that they would limit the flow of tourists.

“We are not going to let the park free for everyone, the tours would be controlled ones and extreme care would be taken for the safety of flora and fauna,” says Naqash.

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