Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary:
A forest department team has recently arrested four members of a gang allegedly involved in the illegal felling of khair trees in the Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary area.
- Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Meerut District of Uttar Pradesh.
- Established in 1986, it lies alongside the northern tip of the River Ganga, flowing through the districts of Muzaffarnagar and Bijnor.
- It is situated near the mediaeval town of Hastinapur, which is of cultural importance.
- It is spread across an area of 2073 sq.km.
- It is made up of a variety of environments, including marshes, grasslands, woodlands, and riverine ecosystems.
- The Ganges River and its tributaries flow through the sanctuary, contributing to its rich biodiversity.
- The vegetation can be classified into tall wet grasslands, dry short grasslands, scrubs, and plantations.
- It is home to the state animal, the Swamp Deer (Barasingha), as well as Hog Deer, Cheetal, Sambar, and the State Bird, the Saaras (Crane).
- It is a part of the “Asia Flyway” project, and many migratory birds, both local and foreign, flock in numbers near the numerous water bodies present in the region.
- Under Crocodile Breeding Projects, baby crocodiles are released in the Ganga River near Hastinapur.
- Under the aegis of the World Wide Fund (WWF), the Turtle Rehabilitation Program also has its centre near the Hastinapur Sanctuary.
