Status and Distribution of aquatic animals in son ghariyal sanctuary, Sidhi, (M.P.)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The present study was carried out to find out the status and distribution of Gharial, mugger and turtle present in the Son Gharial Sanctuary. A total of approximately 122 km. stretch in the Sanctuary was studied and data related with population of Gharial, mugger turtles, habitat features, river profile, human activities and threats were collected. A total of 48 Gharial. 36 Mugger, 90 Turtles (47 Hard-shell and 43 Soft-shell turtle). Training was also arrange to train staff of Son Gharial Sanctuary for future conservation and management of aquatic animal.
INTRODUCTION:
The River Son is a major tributary of River Ganga. It originates from Shosa Kund in Amarkantak Bilaspur District of Chhattisgarh. The river flows through Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and meets Ganga in Bihar. The Son Gharial Sanctuary was notified as Sanctuary by Madhya Pradesh Forest Department in 1981 (vide Gazette No. 14-47-80-10(2) Bhopal. dated 23-09-1981) 161 km stretch of the Son River from the Ban Sagar Dam to Deora up to U.P. Border (Figure 1). The Sanctuary falls within longitude 81°20′ and 82°50′ E and latitude 24.15′ and 25°40′ N. The Sanctuary also includes Gopad and Banas River totaling an additional 48 km. At certain points, the river varies widely in depth from 1 feet to 30 ft. The Sanctuary was a safe adobe for Gharial, mugger, turtles and birds for past decades. It was also declared as breeding ground for Indian Skimmer and Chitra indica in recent years.
Studies on riverine ecology and diversity of aquatic animals in Son Gharial Sanctuary from Terideh to Deora last limit of the Sanctuary has been conducted earlier by few workers, Sharma and Sharma (1997), Sharma et al (1999, 2011, 2018), Sharma (2000, 2006, 2013), Tarun et. al. (2013).