National Parks of Jammu kashmir and ladakh
National park is a strictly reserved area which is used for the protection of biodiversity and wild life. Activities like poaching, grazing forestry development cultivation and hunting are strictly prohibited in national parks. The national parks of UT Jammu and Kashmir are as:
Kishtwar National Park
It is located in Doda and Kishtwar districts of UT Jammu and Kashmir. The area of the park is about 400sq km. It was established in 1981. The main aim of the park is to protect S
now Leopards which are highly endangered species. It is one of the seven National snow leopard Reserves of India. The park is surrounded in North by Rinnay river , in the south by Kibar Nala catchment , in the east by main divide of the great Himalayas and in the West Marwa river.
· Coniferous, Alpine Meadows s and scrubs is the flora found there. Also tree species like Chilgoza, Himalayan Pine, cedar, persian walnut, oak etc are found there. The park includes herbs like purple false brome, anemone, mugwort, sundrops etc. Deciduous shrubs, Desmodium, caprifoliaceous shrubs and Rosa are some shurbs found there. It includes various bird species and fauna. There are around 50 species of birds and 15 mammals species of fauna. Among birds include Himalayan Monal, bearbed vulture, kaklas, indian mynah and white cheeked bulbul. Musk deer, Himalayan brown and black bear, snow leopard and kashmiri stag are among important mammal species.
Dachigam National Park
Located at a distance of 22km away from UT capital Srinagar, the area of park is 141 sq km with varying altitude. Since 1910 the park has been a protected area. The park was created by replacing and relocating 10 villages which fell under its area. This is the reason park got its name as Dachigam . Declared National park in 1981 it was established by the maharaja of kashmir in 1910. In the Indian subcontinent it is most elevated reserve. Marsar lake which orginates from Dagwan river is the important lake which falls in this region.
The park has wide variety of species that include 500 herbs species, 50 species of trees and 20 species of shurbs. The large area of park is covered by coniferous forests. Wild trees cover the mountain side of the forests. Waterfalls, alpine pastures scrub vegetation with deep gullies called as Nars are found there. Among wild trees there are cherry, peach, apple, pine, apricot etc.
The only species of red deer found in India , species of wild goat, Himalayan black bear, Kashmiri stag, langur are the fauna found in Dachigam national park. Besides the wide variety of fauna , the park had 150 species of birds.
Salim Ali National Park
City forest National park was the earlier name of this national park located in district srinagar of UT Jammu and Kashmir. The park is speard over an area of 9 sq km. The park was established in 1922 and named after Mr. Salim Moizuddin Abdul Ali, a renowned ornithologist and naturalist. The important flora of this park is Mangrove Shrubbery. Kashmiri antelope, jackal, flying fox crocodile etc include in the fauna of this park. Ring dove, paradise flycatcher, Himalayan Snow cock kingfisher, Himalayan monal are among 70 species of birds found here.
Kazinag National Park
Located close to the Line of control in district Bramaullah Kazinag National Park is established in the year 2007 With an area of 160 sq kilometers and 70 km away from srinagar .The Kazinag National Park is a part of proposal for a peace park with Pakistan. The national Park was created to protect the endangered and rare Markhor Wild Goat after the end of kargil war. Apart from Nagnari Conservation Reserve the park is carved of the Lachipora and Limber wildlife Sanctuaries.
The endangered Markhor along with other 20 species of animals are found here. Some animals found are as wild goat, Indian leopard, yellow throated marten , black bear etc. Besides various species of animals the national park is home to 17 species of butterflies and 120 species of birds. Among butterflies include brown Argus, common red apollo, mountain argus, regal apollo. Some of birds include golden eagle, sparrow hawk, Kashmir red breasted flycatcher etc.
Hemis National Park
Among the national parks in india Hemis national park is the largest national park. It is also high altitude national park in ladakh. In this national park various projects of conservations of biodiversity has been initiated such as project snow leopard, Ladakh Home stays. Snow leopard, argali, Bharal shapu are found in the national park. It aslo includes Tibetan wolf, Eurasian brown bear and red fix. Its has also Himalayan and non Himalayan birds of prey which includes golden Eagle, the lammergeier vulture and Himalayan griffon vulture.
National parks and wildlife Sanctuaries are found to protect the life of flora and fauna in the forests. Matter of concern is that why is the life of this flora and fauna on threat. It is because of large scale deforestation due to many reasons. So it is primary duty of common people also to avoid cutting of tress and deforestation so that these wild animals live there own habitat without disturbing any one. All the species in this world are dependent on each other. So if some of species got affected due to our actions is has negative impact on us also. Example is that if we cut more trees the level of carbon dioxide will increase in the atmosphere so thus causing global warming that will rise the sea level.
Every individual should act responsibly and make efforts to preserve and protect this nature.