Covering an expanse of 32.11 square kilometers (km2), the Bandli Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in the Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh.[1] Established in 1962, the sanctuary initially spanned an area of 41 square kilometers, as declared in 1999. However, subsequent rationalization efforts resulted in the current size of 32.11 square kilometers.

Located approximately seven kilometers from Sundarnagar town, the sanctuary extends along Seri Khad on both the east and south sides. This includes a "Khad" being a Himachali term for a rivulet, providing essential water sources for the diverse flora and fauna.[1]

Encompassing steep slopes, grasslands, and various water bodies (Nallas), the Bandli Wildlife Sanctuary serves as a habitat for a diverse range of plant and animal species.[2]

Fauna

A total of 1,162 birds, representing 70 different bird species, have been documented within the confines of the Bandli Wildlife Sanctuary.[3] Notably, the sanctuary harbors the Cheer pheasant, a species classified as globally vulnerable.[4] The Cheer pheasant is categorized as a restricted-range species of the western Himalayas.[5] Among other avian species are the Himalayan swiftlet, Long-tailed shrike, Blue-throated barbet, Red-billed blue magpie, and Fire- capped tit.

In addition to its avian diversity, the sanctuary serves as a habitat for a variety of mammals, including the Snow leopard, Goral, Barking Deer, Hanuman Langoor, Indian Fox, and Black Bear.

According to findings from a Cumulative Environmental Impact Assessment (CEIA), the Bandli Wildlife Sanctuary holds significance as one of the ten areas within the Sutlej basin and its tributaries that merit protection as a "no-hydro project zone" to safeguard the fish fauna.[6]

Concerns

In 2010, the Himachal Pradesh High Court nullified the environmental clearance granted for a significant cement plant in Sundar Nagar, responding to local protests and concerns over the plant's proximity to the Bandli Wildlife Sanctuary. However, during the Standing Committee meeting of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) in August 2014, a proposal was presented to M/s Jaypee Himachal for the expansion of a Cement Plant at Bagga, Himachal Pradesh. The proposed site was 5.550 km from the boundary of Majathal Sanctuary and 9.9 km from Bandli Sanctuary.[7] The Standing Committee endorsed the proposal subject to the condition that 2% of the project cost shall be deposited as mitigation measures and the conservation and management of wildlife of the Protected Area.

There is a cement plant located in close proximity to the sanctuary.[8]

The Bandli Wildlife Sanctuary faces challenges from poaching, particularly during the winter season.[9]

Sundernagar and Mandi have reported multiple incidents of leopard attacks, including sightings of these animals in courtyards and institutes such as colleges.[10][11][12]

References

  1. 1 2 "Bandli Wildlife Sanctuary". Wildlife Insitute of India. 5 October 2015. Archived from the original on 1 November 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  2. ↑ "Bandli Sanctuary - One of the Most Beautiful Wildlife Sanctuary of Himachal Pradesh". www.exploreourindia.com. Retrieved 2023-11-17.
  3. ↑ 1) Paliwal 2) Sharief 3) Sidhu 4) Kubendran, 1) Shivani 2) Amira 3) Avtar Kaur 4) T. (January 2019). "Species Diversity and Abundance of Avifauna in Bandli Wildlife Sanctuary, Mandi (Himachal Pradesh)". Zoology, Avifouna.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. ↑ "Cheer pheasants flourishing in Bandli sanctuary". The Times of India. 2011-11-27. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 2023-10-03. Retrieved 2023-09-20.
  5. ↑ Kaul, Rahul; Kalsi, Rajiv S.; Singh, Randeep; Basnet, Hari; Awan, Muhammad Naeem (October 2022). "Cheer Pheasant (Catreus wallichii) and the Conservation Paradox: Importance of Unprotected Areas". Diversity. 14 (10): 785. doi:10.3390/d14100785. ISSN 1424-2818.
  6. ↑ Chauhan, Kuldeep (July 3, 2014). "Declare fish-rich areas as no-hydro project zone: CEIA report". The Tribune. Archived from the original on November 2, 2023. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Minutes of the 31st Meeting of the Standing Committee of National Board for Wildlife held on 12-13 August 2014 at Indira Paryavaran Bhawan, Jor Bag Road, New Delhi" (PDF). 12–13 August 2014. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 August 2022. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  8. ↑ "11_Apr_2017_145307003AI5EQX3HStudyarea.pdf" (PDF). April 11, 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 2, 2023. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  9. ↑ Chauhan, Kuldeep. "Come winter season & poachers are on the prowl". The Tribune. Archived from the original on 2023-11-02. Retrieved 2023-09-20.
  10. ↑ Deepak (2020-06-17). "Sundernagar: कमांद में आदमखोर तेंदुए ने दिनदहाड़े 2 लोगों पर किया हमला, गंभीर घायल". Himachal Abhi Abhi. Archived from the original on 2023-11-02. Retrieved 2023-09-20.
  11. ↑ "Mandi woman injured in leopard attack". The Tribune. June 27, 2021. Archived from the original on November 2, 2023. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  12. ↑ "VIDEO: मंडी में घर के आंगन में दिनदिहाड़े घूमता दिखा तेंदुआ, लोगों के उड़े होश". News18 हिंदी (in Hindi). 2023-05-31. Archived from the original on 2023-11-02. Retrieved 2023-09-20.

31°27′00″N 76°54′18″E / 31.450°N 76.905°E / 31.450; 76.905

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