Tal Chhapar Sanctuary

Why in News?

• The famous Tal Chhapar Blackbuck Sanctuary in Churu, Rajasthan has recently received a protective cover against a proposed move of the State government to reduce the size of its Eco Sensitive Zone (ESZ).

Highlights

• The World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) has also taken up a major project for the conservation of raptors in the sanctuary, spread in an area measuring 7.19 sq. Km
• The Tal Chhapar Sanctuary Is situated on the border of the Great Indian Thar Desert.
• Tal Chhapar is a distinctive shelter of the most graceful Antelope seen in India, “the Blackbuck”.
• It was given the status of a sanctuary in 1966.
• Tal Chhapar was a hunting reserve of the erstwhile royal family of Bikaner.
• The “Tal” word is Rajasthani word means plane land.
• This Sanctuary has nearly flat territory and combined thin low-lying region. It has got open and wide grasslands with spread Acacia and Prosopis plants that offer it a look of a characteristic Savanna
• Tal Chhapar is an ideal place to see Blackbucks which are more than a thousand in number here. It is a good place to see the desert animals and reptile species.
• The sanctuary Is host to about 4,000 blackbucks, over 40 species of raptors and more than 300 species of resident and migratory birds.
• Migratory birds in the sanctuary are harriers, eastern imperial eagle, tawny eagle, short-toed eagle, sparrow, and little green bee-eaters, black ibis and demoiselle cranes. Other than that, skylarks, crested larks, ring doves, and brown doves can be seen throughout the year.