Study on the Faunal Diversity of Protected Areas of Jammu and Kashmir: A Review

Protected areas are regions or zones of land or seathat are reserved for the purpose of conserving nature and biodiversity.Such areas are essential for biodiversity conservation ,often providing habitat and protection from hunting for threatened and endangered species.The 5/ of the India's Protected area have been an important reason why India has suffered no documented species extinction in the past 70 years .This is possible only by strong legislation favouring conservation and protection .UT of Jammu and Kashmir has notified more than 1700 sqkm area as protected Network comprising of 5 National parks ,15 wildlife sancturies ,33 Conservation Reserves and 14 Wetland reserves. The present article gives an overview of the protection areas of UT of Jammu and Kashmir.


Introduction
Jammu & Kashmir is a mystifying land.It is a picturesque collage of various elements of nature that makes it an ideal tourist destination.The northern frontier of the state is fortified with the majestic mountains of the Himalaya Range.These ranges and their snow capped peaks complete a picturesque landscape that includes crystal clear streams and lush green vegetation.Jammu and Kashmir is not a homogeneous land.It is marked by undulating topography and varied soil types that lead to the growth of diverse plants.These in turn, support numerous life forms to constitute an ecological pyramid.In terms of climate, Jammu and Kashmir is unique.The vast distribution of topographical features is a cause of this fact.The controlling factor of the climate is the Himalayas.Except the dry plateaus of Ladakh, the state receives ample amounts of rainfall.The land is crisscrossed by perennial streams of fresh water.The streams water the land and sustain the lives of the people that inhabit the land.Winter season sees extensive precipitation in terms of snowfall.In the winter, the snow resembles a vast sheet of white blanket covering the valleys.Culture and human settlements have also been altered by the pattern of the climatic variations of the region.Three socio-cultural regions have been established in the state.Each region has a set of distinct cultural patterns that coexist in harmony under the umbrella of Jammu and Kashmir.The Easternmost region of Ladakh is the stronghold of predominantly Tibetan culture.The southern state is the foothills of the Himalayas that are the home of tribes such as the Dogras that migrated centuries ago.The northernmost region outlines the beautiful valley of Kashmir and its majestic beauty.Each of these regions contributes heavily to make Jammu and Kashmir an epitome of cross-cultural harmony.
The scenic beauty of Jammu and Kashmir is enchanting, to say the least.The combination of nature, heritage and history make the state an enchanting land.Among many other traits that distinguish the land of Jammu & Kashmir, the flora and fauna of the state is one of prime importance.It is home to a bewildering variety of animals that inhabit the mountainous terrain.The flora that grow on the rich soil supports the variety of fauna found in the area.The flora has a defining impact on the lives of the people as well and is extremely beneficial for maintaining their cultural heritage.The State Government has notified more than 17000 sq km as Protected Area Network comprising of 5 National Parks, 14 Wildlife Sanctuaries and 33 Conservation Reserves and 14 Wetland Reserves.These areas are being managed through habitat improvement and management, plantation, soil and water conservation, protection from fire, anti-poaching activities, development of infrastructure, providing supplemental feed to rescued captive wild animals etc.The rare and endangered species found in the state include Kashmir stag (hangul), Snow leopard, Tibetan antelope (chiru), Tibetan gazelle, Markhor, Musk deer, Brown bear, Black-necked crane and Western Tragopan etc.The wildlife Department is making all possible efforts for conservation and propagation of these species their habitat.Jammu and Kashmir is home to 7 species of amphibians belonging to 6 genera, 5 families and 1 order.63 species of reptiles belonging to 43 genera, 12 families and 2 orders have also been reported.The available data suggest that there are 120 species of fishes belonging to 14 genera under 5 families in J&K.The available data also reveals that as many as 198 species of ants, 408 species of Butterflies and 461 species of Moths occur in the J&K.

Avian Diversity
The avian diversity is changing and varies seasonally.As per the available data a total of 555 species of birds belonging to 20 orders occur in the Jammu and Kashmir State.This constitutes 40.36% of the total bird species count (1375) for the Indian subcontinent.Out of 105 families occurring in the subcontinent, 76 (72.38%) are represented in this State.Jammu and Kashmir State has a rich diversity of birds, comprising 555 species belonging to 76 families in 20 orders.Among these, 32 (5.76 %) species are globally threatened and 9 (1.62%) species are endemic to the Western Himalaya.Jammu region, being the most diverse in terms of habitat types and vegetation, supports the largest number (381, 68.64%) of bird species found in the State, followed by the Kashmir region with 299 (53.87%), and closely by the Ladakh region with 291 (52.43%) species.

Mammalian Diversity
Owing to the enormous diversity of habitat types, great altitudinal span and climatic variations, J&K possesses a rich faunal diversity.Many of these mammal species are endemic and relatively confined to various areas of this Himalayan range.The diverse assemblage of wild sheep and goats represented by Blue sheep, Urial, Argali, Ibex, Markhor, Himalayan Tahr, Serow, and Goral, is an indicator of the diversity.Though these species have their distribution range spread to far-off Central Asia and Middle East, yet they display greater adaptive variations in this region than in any other part of the world.Furthermore, the Kashmir Red Deer (Cervushangluhanglu) and Kashmir Musk Deer (Moschuscupreus) and LadakhUrial (Ovisorientalis) are extremely threatened species endemic to this region and require immediate management and conservation attention.

Some of the notable mammalian wildlife species of J&K are: Hangul( Cervus elaphus hanglu)
Family: Cervidae J&K Wildlife (Protection) Act: Schedule -I IUCN Status: Critically Endangered A sub-species of European Red Deer Inhabit temperate-forests (broad-leaved -coniferous forests intercepted with meadows) between 1500 -3600 m Commonly sighted (Oct -Feb) in Dachigam National Park, Srinagar.Frequently seen in Tso-moririlake, Ladakh.

AREA NETWORK IN JAMMU AND KASHMIR S. No NAME OF THE PROTECTED AREAS AREA IN SQ. KM WILDLIFE DIVISION CENTRAL -SRINAGAR
The park is home to a viable breeding population of about 200 snow leopards, especially in the Rumbak catchment area.Other species are Argali (Great Tibetan Sheep), Bharal (Blue Sheep), Shapu (Ladakhi Urial), Asiatic Ibex, etc. Major Flora: Dry forests of juniper, Populus -Salix forests are present at lower altitudes.The upper mountain slopes are moist, this area is characterized by alpine vegetation including Anemone, Gentiana, Thallctrwn, Lloydia, Veronica, Delphinum, Carex and Kobresia.The other parts of the park support There are about 112 species of mammals.Carnivores represent 32% of the total mammalian fauna in J&K.A total of 19 species of the ungulates reported from the UT, 13 have been listed as globally threatened.