Achalgarh area set ablaze forest fire Mount Abu [ 24 March 2022 ]

 Wildfire in Achalgarh zone

Wildfire Achalgarh zone
per kind favour Sahil Abu Birder

Wildfire Achalgarh zone

per kind favour Sahil Abu Birder

We judge the lack of moisture in the summer months to be a contributing cause of forest fires. Since summer in the “Abode of Gods” is only just starting, the recent surge of fires in the Achalgarh zone is questionable. On 22 March 2022 there was a fire in Achalgarh, and last night (23 March 2022 at around 6 pm and lasted until about 2 am), three fires broke out almost simultaneously. One was adjacent to the Achalgarh temple area, another was behind the Safari cottages, and the third one was near Veer Baba. 

Officials accuse visitors and locals of irresponsibly tossing lit bidis or cigarettes over dry grass, sparking fires. Some think that they deliberately set jungle fires as revenge for the ban on collecting wood.

Mount Abu has had several forest fire breakouts throughout the years. Forest firefighting is dangerous and agencies lack resources to handle enormous fires. This is one of the most terrifying trials a guy has ever encountered. 

There has been an upsurge in forest fire incidences in recent years, which is a reason for concern for everyone. Forest fires have wreaked havoc on various parts of Mount Abu's dwindling forest every year. The significant damage caused by these fires is the destruction of rare plants located in woodlands. They endanger the lives of animals and birds that live in the forest.

Forest Department officials believe they are short on workforce and equipment to deal with the situation. Even in regions where they have taken action, regular measures such as building fire lines and dealing with forest fires are insufficient. I hope the spate of fires that have cropped up won’t be a harbinger of an evil wind wafting through this hill station. 

THE GREEN MONSTER IS HERE TO STAY Mount Abu

The Green Menace has spread its tentacles in Mount Abu.

Water hyacinth Abu Streams.

Water hyacinth Abu Streams.

The Water hyacinth has permanently invaded all our streams, covering our scarce water bodies with a weed cloak. This has doomed the viability of the existing ecosystem concerning the immediate areas around the streams. The little silverfish, which used to abound and serve as a food source for the visiting birds, are no longer visible. 

Birds such as

( White Throated Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail,  Little Black Cormorant, Little Grebe, Crested Serpent Eagle, Common Kingfisher, Black-winged Stilt, Pied Kingfisher) have not been returning as the stream is choking with the hyacinth weed.

The Lantana species that was introduced to Abu should have been a loud warning signal to our administration. Because of the extensive growth of Lantana, a mat-like structure is formed, which leads to the degradation and destruction of biodiversity. The Lantana has intruded on and snuffed out the terrain of the flourishing Karonda bush and the wild rose (Roses Abuensis) bushes. As a result, to see them, one needs to go in search of them. 

The municipality sent their workforce to clean the streams earlier in the year, but just sweeping the surface has had no effect! It’s like our modern generation with plastic bags. 

In the last few years, the Forest Department and our local administration have taken steps to curtail the invasive species (Lantana)from spreading by planting native flora species.

This GREEN menace has to be taken on a war footing; our Forest Department should take up the issue and employ our locals who depend on the forest for their livelihood, not only would it contain the forest from being depleted of its precious trees, but give meaningful and productive employment and keeping this hungry monster at bay.

 Taking concrete and constructive steps will help in affecting the ecological equilibrium.

Wildlife Awareness Week Mount Abu.1 Oct 2018

The 64th Wildlife Week of  Mount Abu.

The 64th Wildlife Week of  Mount Abu was inaugurated on Monday at the  Forest Department.

A Green Munia /Haria plaque.

Snap above kind favour Charles Guide

 

Abuites from all walks of life, the CRPF, SDM-Nishant Jain, DFO-Balaji Kurry, school children from all the various schools, our very own  Abuites Dr AK Sharma, Narendra Kumar Choudhary, Chunnilal Rajpurohit, Bharat Singh Deora,  Principal Mohanlal Leel, Sunil Acharya, Kashyap Jani, Harnam Singh, Omvir Singh and Ravi Sindal attended this opening ceremony. A Green Munia plaque was inaugurated by the DFO Sirohi Sangram Singh Katiya on this occasion. Every year wildlife awareness week which lasts from 1 Oct to the 7 of Oct is taken very seriously by the folks of this small hill station.

Large-scale changes have occurred during the last few decades. Mount Abu jungles were once impenetrable and substantial areas were pretty impossible to explore. Tigers which roamed freely were hunted down by the elite. Their natural habitat was destroyed and their source of food dwindled resulting in their disappearing from this area. The last tiger reported in Mt.Abu was placed in the year 1970.

To read the News in Hindi click the picture

Wildlife Week Mt.Abu

Today Abu boasts of only a handful of Leopards. Sambar which was plentiful is today almost a lost cause. Very few have been strong enough to survive the onslaught of Modernisation and the degradation of their native environment. The only marked improvement in its population is the sloth bear. The presence of vegetational composition and availability of water Highly suits bears and it is one of the best sloth bear areas in the world.

I do not have the latest statistical data of the wildlife census, of  the animals found here but as soon as I get them I'll post them

Baby bear cubs drown last night Mount Abu

Tragic Loss of Two Bear Cubs in Enclosed Well Near Ambika Palace Hotel

 In a heartbreaking incident last night, two bear cubs drowned after falling into a well near Ambika Palace Hotel. While foraging on a mulberry tree that hung over the enclosed well, the curious cubs lost their balance and fell into the deep water below.

The haunting question makes this tragedy even more sorrowful: Where was the mother bear? It’s hard to imagine her distress, watching her cubs struggle for their lives, yet unable to intervene. Perhaps out of desperation, she chose not to leap into the well, but it’s a mystery that leaves a lingering ache.

The well, positioned away from the main road, likely muffled the cubs’ cries for help. Even if they made a commotion, their voices were unheard throughout the night. When locals came to draw water from the well in the early morning, they discovered their lifeless bodies.

The forest department received immediate notification, and their personnel arrived to retrieve the bodies of the two cubs. There have been reports of the mother bear being sighted in the area, searching for her lost young. While this loss is tragic, we advise residents to be cautious, as the grieving mother bear, who is likely on edge, may become aggressive.

This devastating event serves as a sombre reminder of the delicate balance between wildlife and human settlement, and the unforeseen dangers animals face in such an environment. Let’s hope this incident prompts action to protect the safety of both animals and people in these overlapping areas.

The Cubs were just a month and a half old.

A male and female cub.

(cub photographs per kind favour Kishore Singh Forest department)

Shuel Braganza still on the missing list Mount Abu

Search for Shuel Braganza: Mount Abu Community Still Holds Hope

 It’s been almost a month since Shuel Braganza went missing on October 21, 2015, during what was supposed to be a solo climb of Plummy. Despite the passage of time, the Mount Abu community remains united and hopeful as they search for him.

Tomorrow, November 17, 2015, the Forest Department, local Scouts, police, and volunteers will undertake a significant combing operation. This coordinated effort is a testament to the dedication of those involved, determined to bring Shuel home.

The uncertainty is difficult for everyone who knows him, and we can only pray for his safety. You can expect updates on the search efforts and any progress through my Facebook account.

Let’s keep Shuel and his family in our thoughts as this critical search continues.