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News: Conservation of the Great Indian Bustard (GIB) will enter a crucial phase with captive-bred chicks set for a pilot release in enclosures at Desert National Park, Jaisalmer.
About Desert National Park (DNP)
- Desert National Park (DNP) is located in the Thar Desert across Jaisalmer and Barmer districts, Rajasthan.
- It is one of the largest national parks in the country.
- This is the only place in Rajasthan where the state bird (the great Indian bustard), state animal (chinkara), state tree (Khejri), and state flower (Rohida) are all found naturally.
- Area: Total area of the Park is 3162 sq. km.
- Establish year: It was established in 1980.
- It has a collection of fossils of animals and plants which are nearly 180 million years old.
- Some fossils of Dinosaurs of 6 million years old have been found in the area.
- Landscape: A major part of the park consists of a landscape featuring the lakebeds of extinct salt lakes and thorny scrub.
- Around 20% of the Park is covered by sand dunes.
- The major landform consists of craggy rocks and compact salt lake bottoms, inters medial areas and fixed dunes.
- Climate: It falls in the extreme hot, arid region of a very low rainfall zone of the country.
- Vegetation: The vegetation is sparse, and patches of sewan grass and aak shrub can be seen.
- Lakes: Rajbaugh Lake, Malik Talao Lake and Padam Talao are three main lakes in this sanctuary.
- Flora: The rich flora of the park consists of dhok, ronj, salai and palm trees.
- The Khejri tree (Prosopis cineraria) is commonly found in the region and is deeply revered and protected by local communities, particularly the Bishnoi community.
- Fauna: The wildlife of the Desert National Park includes Blackbuck, Chinkara, Desert fox, Bengal Fox, Indian Wolf, Desert Cat, Hare etc.
- Reptiles are also found in abundance and they include spiny –tailed lizard, monitor lizard, saw scaled-viper, Russel viper , Karit.
- The endangered Great Indian Bustard is one of the most notable species found here.
- It also provides habitat for numerous resident and migratory desert birds, including eagles, harriers, falcons, kestrels, vultures, larks, bee-eaters, shrikes, partridges, and quails.
