KEOLADEO GHANA NATIONAL PARK - ENVIRONMENT
News: Rajasthan
plans zoo for dolphins, rhinos inside Bharatpur sanctuary
What's in the news?
● The
Rajasthan state Forest Department has proposed to construct a zoo inside
Keoladeo National Park, a World Heritage Site popularly known as Bharatpur bird sanctuary, to display a
range of wetland species, including
rhinos, water buffaloes, crocs, dolphins and exotic species.
Key takeaways:
● The
purpose of this zoo, called Wetland ex-situ Conservation Establishment (WESCE),
says the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the Rajasthan Forestry and Biodiversity Development Project (RFBDP), is
“to rejuvenate the bio-diversity of Keoladeo National Park, thereby boosting
its outstanding universal values.”
● The
Rajasthan Forestry and Biodiversity Development Project (RFBDP) was launched
with the support of France for over
eight years with a fund of nearly ₹1200 crores.
Keoladeo Ghana National Park:
● Keoladeo
Ghana National Park formerly known as the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary in Bharatpur, Rajasthan, is a famous avifauna
sanctuary that hosts thousands of birds, especially during the winter
season.
○ Over
230 species of birds are known to be resident.
● It
is also a major tourist center.
● It
was declared a protected sanctuary in 1971 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
● It
is a man-made and man-managed wetland.
● It
was designated as a Ramsar site
under the Wetland Convention in 1981.
● Keoladeo
Ghana National Park comes under the Montreux
record of Ramsar Convention along with Loktak lake.