Wildlife of Punjab, India

The wildlife of Punjab, India is rich, with 396 types of birds, 214 kinds of Lepidoptera, 55 varieties of fish, 20 types of reptiles, and 19 kinds of mammals. The state of Punjab has large wetland areas, bird sanctuaries that house numerous species of birds, and many zoological parks. Wetlands include the national wetland Hari-Ke-Pattan, the wetland of Kanjli, and the wetlands of Kapurthala Sutlej. Wildlife sanctuaries include the Harike in the district of Tarn Taran Sahib, the Zoological Park in Rupnagar, Chhatbir Bansar Garden in Sangrur, Aam Khas Bagh in Sirhind, Amritsar's famous Ram Bagh Palace, Shalimar Garden in Kapurthala, and the famous Baradari Garden in the city of Patiala.[1] There are a total of 5,167 floral, fungal, and faunal species in the state of Punjab.[2]

Parts of the districts of Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Pathankot, Nawanshahr, and Ropar contain sub-mountainous zones and undulating land below the Shivalik hills region.[2]

Protected areas

Protected areas[2][3]
Type Number
Wildlife sanctuaries 13
Ramsar sites 6
Botanical gardens 5
Zoological parks 1
Deer parks 4
Community reserves 3

Flora and fungi

In the Punjabi-language, the word bir refers to reserved forest or village land set aside as common pasture.[2][4] Punjab used to have large forests and jungles, such as the Lakhi and Macchiwara jungles, that were used by Sikhs during historical periods of open-genocide and active-oppression against them, such as under the Mughals.[5] However, much of its former forests were subsequently cut-down.[5] Although, some forest cover remains, such as at the site of sacred groves, which are associated with local religious and cultural beliefs.[6] Sacred groves are referred to as jhidi in Punjabi and they harbour rare animal and plant species not found elsewhere in the state.[6] There are at-least nine major sacred groves in Punjab, India.[6] Aside from sacred groves, some remaining forest fragments can be found near Sikh gurdwaras and deras, such as Gurdwara Tibbi Sahib (Muktsar), Gurdwara Sattal Khara (Muktsar), and Dera Baba Dhyan Das (Mansa).[7]

Punjab has the lowest forest cover as a percentage of land area of any Indian state, with 3.6% of its total area under forest cover as of 2017.[8] A 2019 study found that 6.83% of the state's total geographic area was either under forest (3.67%) or tree cover (3.16%).[2] In-contrast, over 83% of the area of the state was agricultural.[2]

Under Pahar Singh of Faridkot State, the jungles that surrounded Faridkot were deforested to clear the land for development.[9] During the Green Revolution, large tracts of jungles were cut-down in the state to make room for agriculture and forested areas were also cleared for road infrastructure and residential homes.[8] Various NGOs are working towards afforestation and reforestation of the state by launching educational drives, planting saplings, working towards regulatory changes, and pressuring organisations to follow environmental laws.[8] One NGO, EcoSikh, has planted over 100 forests, composed of native plant species, in the state using the Japanese Miyawaki methodology that are named 'Guru Nanak Sacred Forests'.[10][11][12] Native plant species are facing the risk of extirpation from the state but planting mini-forests throughout the land can help prevent this from occurring.[13] Prior to the Green Revolution, Butea monosperma (known as 'dhak' in Punjabi) trees were found in abundance in the state.[14]

Taxonomic diversity of floral and fungi species in Punjab, India[2]
Taxonomic grouping Number of species
Algae 371
Fungi 560
Lichens 21
Bryophytes 29
Pteridophytes 30
Gymnosperms 21
Angiosperms 1,939
Total 2,971

Fauna

A few of the rivers in Punjab have crocodiles, including reintroduced gharials in the Beas River after half a century of their extirpation from the state.[15][16][17] Indus river dolphins can be found in the Harike Wetland.[18] The extraction of silk from silkworms is another industry that flourishes in the state. Production of bee honey is done in some parts of Punjab. The southern plains are desert land; hence, camels can be seen. Buffaloes graze around the banks of rivers. The northeastern part is home to animals like horses. Wildlife sanctuaries have many more species of wild animals like the otter, wild boar, wildcat, fruit bat, hog deer, flying fox, squirrel, and mongoose. Naturally formed forests can be seen in the Shivalik ranges in the districts of Ropar, Gurdaspur and Hoshiarpur. Patiala is home to the Bir forest while the wetlands area in Punjab is home to the Mand forest.[19] The local subspecies of blackbuck, A. c. rajputanae, is facing the risk of extirpation from the state.[20][21][22]

Botanical gardens exist throughout Punjab. There is a zoological park and a tiger safari park, as well as three parks dedicated to deer.[19]

The state bird is the northern goshawk (baz) (Accipiter gentilis),[23] the state animal is the blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra), the state aquatic animal is Indus river dolphin (Platanista minor), and the state tree is the shisham (Dalbergia sissoo).[24]

Taxonomic diversity of faunal species in Punjab, India[2]
Taxonomic grouping Number of species
Platyhelminthes 41
Phylum Protozoa 84
Nematoda 157
Annelida 34
Arthropoda 1,147
Mollusca 85
Pisces 113
Amphibia 15
Replia 35
Aves 442
Mammalia 43
Total 2,196

Threatened and endangered species

There are a total of thirteen species (8 floral and 5 faunal) facing extinction in the state of Punjab.[2]

Threatened and endangered species[2]
Floral
No. Name
1. Tecomella undulata
2. Withania coagulans
3. Anogeissus sericea
4. Alysicarpus bupleuurifolius
5. Hibiscus hoshiarpurensis
6. Ceropegia bulbosa
7. Ophioglossum gramineum
8. Ophioglossum polyphyllum
Faunal
No. Common name Scientific name
1. Indus river dolphin Platanista minor / Plantista gangetica
2. White-rumped vulture Gyps bengalensis
3. Sarus crane Grus antigone
4. Indian python Python molurus
5. Indian roofed turtle Pangshura tecta

List of natural areas in Punjab, India

Wetlands

Nature reserves and sanctuaries

Community and conservation reserves

  • Keshopur-Miani Community Reserve (Keshopur-Chhamb Community Reserve)[3]
  • Lalwan Community Reserve[3]
  • Panniwala-Gumjal-Haripura-Diwankhera Community Reserve[3]
  • Siswan Community Reserve[3]
  • Rakh Sarai Amanat Khan Conservation Reserve[3]
  • Bir Bhadson Wildlife Sanctuary[3]
  • Roapar Wetland Conservation Reserve[3]
  • Ranjit Sagar Dam Conservation Reserve[3]
  • Beas Conservation Reserve[2][3]

Forests

Sacred groves

State symbols

See also

References

  1. ^ "Flora And Fauna Of Punjab". Archived from the original on 10 December 2015. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u "Biodiversity Conservation In Punjab: Key Initiatives - Status of Environment & Related Issues" (PDF). Punjab ENVIS Newsletter. 19 (1): 1–16. 2021–2022 – via ENVIS.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Community Reserve". Department of Forests and Wildlife Preservation, Government of Punjab. Archived from the original on 16 July 2022. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
  4. ^ Singh, Gurmukh (2002). Singh, Harbans (ed.). The Encyclopedia of Sikhism. Vol. I: A–D (4th ed.). Patiala: Punjabi University. p. 374. ISBN 8173801002. The word bir in Punjabi is also used for reserved forest or village land set aside as common pasture.
  5. ^ a b Singh, Jaspal (7 September 2023). Rejuvenating Punjab: New Economic World Order. Virsa Publications. pp. 159–160. ISBN 9788195904952.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Singh, Gurharminder & Singh, Vartika & Jerath, Neelima. (2024). Assessment of Biodiversity and Conservation Challenges of Prominent Sacred Groves of Punjab: An Overview. African Journal of Biological Sciences. 6. 787-811. 10.33472/AFJBS.6.4.2024.787-811. Retrieved via: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/387403999_Assessment_of_Biodiversity_and_Conservation_Challenges_of_Prominent_Sacred_Groves_of_Punjab_An_Overview
  7. ^ "Geographic Mapping of Salvadora oleoides in Northwestern India". New Prospects in Environmental Geosciences and Hydrogeosciences: Proceedings of the 2nd Springer Conference of the Arabian Journal of Geosciences (CAJG-2), Tunisia 2019. Springer Nature. Jan 28, 2022. pp. 158–159. ISBN 9783030725433.
  8. ^ a b c "In agri-rich Punjab, a fight to reclaim forest cover". The Times of India. 22 August 2022. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 6 May 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  9. ^ Singh, Sukhpreet; Bhullar, Sukhjeet Kaur (2019). "Contributions of Different Kings in the Faridkot State". Research Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences. 10 (1): 248–252. doi:10.5958/2321-5828.2019.00045.7.
  10. ^ Zutshi, Minna (26 October 2020). "EcoSikh's Guru Nanak Sacred Forests: A reason to cheer for Ludhiana district". The Tribune, India. Archived from the original on 1 May 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  11. ^ Singh, Gurjot (15 March 2022). "EcoSikh Completes Planting 400 Sacred Forests all across the globe on Sikh Environment Day 2022". SikhNet. Archived from the original on 1 May 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  12. ^ Banerji, Aparna (1 July 2019). "'Nanak jungles' to increase state's green cover". The Tribune. Archived from the original on 1 May 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  13. ^ Sharma, Seema (22 March 2019). "Punjab's native tree species disappearing from forest areas: Expert". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 1 May 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  14. ^ Zutshi, Minna (23 May 2018). "Ludhiana's Dhak Forest a treat for nature lovers". The Tribune. Archived from the original on 1 May 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  15. ^ "24 gharials released into Beas". The Tribune. 6 December 2021. Archived from the original on 1 May 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  16. ^ Gupta, Vivek (7 December 2020). "Gharials bounce back in Punjab but the real test is breeding". Mongabay-India. Archived from the original on 1 May 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  17. ^ Vasudeva, Vikas (18 December 2021). "Reintroduced gharials thriving in Beas reserve: experts". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 1 May 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  18. ^ Puri, Gurbax (16 April 2022). "Tarn Taran diary: Harike, an abode for birds, rare Indus dolphins". The Tribune. Archived from the original on 1 May 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  19. ^ a b "Animals and Birds in Punjab". Archived from the original on 10 December 2015. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
  20. ^ Srinivasulu, C. (2012). South Asian mammals : their diversity, distribution, and status. Bhargavi Srinivasulu. New York, NY: Springer. p. 364. ISBN 978-1-4614-3449-8. OCLC 794056010.
  21. ^ Biodiversity and environment. B. N. Pandey, G. K. Kulkarni, National Symposium on Recent Advances in Animal Research with Special Emphasis on Invertebrates. New Delhi: A P H Pub. Corp. 2006. p. 172. ISBN 81-313-0042-0. OCLC 297209812.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  22. ^ Vasudeva, Vikas (17 February 2019). "Caught down the wire: Punjab's blackbuck fight for existence". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 13 March 2023. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  23. ^ "Lost in flight: State bird of Punjab missing from the state!". Hindustan Times. 14 September 2017. Archived from the original on 14 January 2021. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  24. ^ "State Profile – About Punjab". Punjab Government. Archived from the original on 6 November 2011. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.