Book Cover


Sariska
The Tiger Reserve Roars Again
Paper Type: Art Paper (Matt) | Size: 216 x 178mm
All colour; 164 photographs
ISBN-10: 9383098716 | ISBN-13: 978-93-83098-71-2
 Nature & Wildlife, Travel

 650 |  20 |  15

Sariska, in Rajasthan, has been one of the most famous national parks in India, especially for its tigers. However, it had lost every single one of its tiger population to poachers a decade ago. The revelation was devastating. It sent shock waves not only throughout India but also abroad. After much discussions, apprehensions, arguments, legal battles, and interference of the Prime Minister, a few tigers were shifted from Ranthambhore to Sariska. This was the first such experiment anywhere in the world which turned out to be a grand success. Sariska has now more than a dozen tigers. This and several other such interesting and revealing experiments are discussed in this book by the one who was directly involved in these developments. The author, then field director of Sariska, describes his first-hand experiences in a most thrilling and revealing manner. The challenges faced by the author on creating waterholes for the wild animals, strengthening check posts to stop poaching, confrontations with villagers and local politicians, and so on are described in detail. The book will doubtlessly be a valuable addition to the existing thin wildlife literature. This will be a valuable possession for not only wildlife lovers and administrators, especially of national parks, but also for environmental and social organisations as well as students.


Sunayan Sharma
Sunayan Sharma
Author

Sunayan Sharma, formerly a member of the Indian Forest Service, served as Wildlife Warden at Jodhpur, Rajasthan, during 1986–88. He served Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur during 1988–91 as Research Officer and again during 2006–08 as its Director. During his second tenure, he developed an innovative scheme to remove the deadly Prosopis julifora from the Park. He also developed schemes to divert water from Chiksana canal and Govardhan drain to the Park which proved to be landmark schemes saving the Keoladeo National Park from being delisted by UNESCO as a world heritage site.

During 1991–96, Mr Sharma served as Field Director, Sariska Tiger Reserve. He served Sariska again during 2008–10. His initiative resulted in closure of several marble mines inside the Reserve. He also oversaw the reintroduction of tigers into Sariska after they were decimated by poachers. This was the first such experiment in the world. He also innovated and implemented several protection strategies for the safety of animals in the Tiger Reserve.

Sunayan Sharma is now the President of Sariska Tiger Foundation.


सुनयन शर्मा, भारतीय वन सेवा के एक सेवानिवृत्त अधिकारी, ने 1986-88 में मरु क्षेत्र के वन्यजीवों की सुरक्षा व प्रबन्ध हेतु वन्यजीव प्रतिपालक के रूप में सेवाएँ दीं। वर्ष 1988-91 में केवलादेव राष्ट्रीय उद्यान, भरतपुर में अनुसंधान अधिकारी के रूप में एवं पुनः 2006-08 में इसके निदेशक के रूप में अपनी सेवाएँ दीं। अपने इस दूसरे कार्यकाल में उन्होंने विलायती बबूल (प्रोसोपिस ज्यूलीफ्लोरा) के राष्ट्रीय उद्यान से उन्मूलन के लिए एक वििशष्ट मौलिक योजना का सृजन किया। उन्होंने चिकसाना कैनाल व गोवर्धन ड्रेन का पानी भरतपुर राष्ट्रीय उद्यान में पहुँचाने वाली दो महत्वपूर्ण योजनाओं को जन्म दिया। यह तीनों योजनाएँ केवलादेव राष्ट्रीय उद्यान को यूनेस्को (UNESCO) द्वारा प्रदत्त विश्व प्रकृति निधि के गौरवशाली अलंकरण को बचाए रखने में मील का पत्थर साबित हुईं। वर्ष 1991-96 में श्री शर्मा, सरिस्का बाघ परियोजना के क्षेत्र निदेशक रहे। पुनः उन्होंने 2008-10 में सरिस्का में अपनी सेवाएँ दीं। सरिस्का में चल रही सैकड़ों संगमरमर की खानें बन्द करवाने में उन्होंने प्रशंसनीय भूमिका अदा की। शिकारियों के हाथों बाघों का सफाया होने के बाद सरिस्का में बाघों को पुनर्वासित करने में मुख्य भूमिका निभाई। यह विश्व में अपने किस्म का पहला ही प्रयोग था। उन्होंने वन्यजीवों की सुरक्षा व संवर्द्धन के लिए अनेकों अनूठी योजनाएँ सृजित कीं। सुनयन शर्मा वर्तमान में सरिस्का टाइगर फाउंडेशन के अध्यक्ष हैं।