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News: The Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (SCNBWL) issued guidelines on diverting sanctuary land for religious structures after a proposal involving Balaram Ambaji Wildlife Sanctuary, which houses two historic temples.
About Balaram Ambaji Wildlife Sanctuary
- Location: It is located in the Aravalli Hills in the Banaskantha district of Gujarat.
- Establishment: It was declared a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1989.
- Name Origin: It is named after two historic temples, Balaram and Ambaji, which are located at opposite ends of the sanctuary.
- Rivers: It falls in the catchments of Banas and Sabarmati River.
- Vegetation: The sanctuary is characterized by dry deciduous forests with undulating hills, valleys and rocky terrain.
- Flora: It is home to 483 plant species, including medicinal plants like Kadaya, Gugal, and Musali. Prominent trees include Khair, Dhavada, Timru, and Khakhara (Palash).
- Fauna: Leopard, sloth bear, striped hyena, bluebull, Indian pangolin, porcupine, wolf, jackal, and wild boar are found in the sanctuary. It also supports rare and common birds such as adjutant stork, spoonbill, osprey, vultures, peafowl, hornbill, and several raptors.
- Ecological Importance: It plays a crucial role in conserving the Aravalli ecosystem and checking the southward spread of the Thar Desert.
