Haryana government to showcase its nature tourism :
It is to be noted that Haryana government will also showcase its nature tourism. A state which has been deprived of natural beauty due to its geographic location is all set to develop Morni-Pinjore hills, Kalesar protected area and Sultanpur national park for nature tourism. Notably, the Central government has sanctioned Rs 6.48 crore for these projects. In Morni and Tikkar Taal the tourist facilities will be upgradedat places like Morni fort, Lal Munia forest rest house, Tikkar and Bara Taal and Thapati nature camp. At the Sultanpur National Park, cottages, library and bird watching towers will be constructed. At Kalesar, nature camp and nature trails would be developed. Improvement of Chauharpur herbal park and construction of water bodies shall also be taken up.
Elephant breeding reported in Kalesar WLS :
A herd of nine elephants, including two baby elephants, one of them newly born, was recently spotted in the Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary adjoining the Rajaji National Park. This is the first report of wild elephants breeding in Haryana. The elephant herd is reported to have moved to Kalesar from Rajaji in the month of July and has continued to stay here. A couple of elephants from the Rajaji National Park have been frequently visiting the Kalesar forests every year, but this is the first time of a long stay of a herd and of the birth as reported.
State now opposes Tiger Reserve proposal :
The Himachal Pradesh Forest Department is now said to be opposing the proposal for the creation of an inter-state Tiger Reserve that will include parts of the Simbalbara WLS in HP and the Kalesar WLS in Haryana. The proposal for the creation of this Tiger Reserve had been supported by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) following the recording of tiger pugmarks in here in 2003. An area of 4,401 hectares had also been identified between Simbalbara WLS and Rajaji NP, adjacent to Haryana’s Kalesar forest area, for inclusion in the tiger reserve. Senior wildlife officials in Himachal, including PCCF Wildlife, Mr. KK Gupta are now disputing the presence of tigers in this area, and therefore questioning the logic of creating a tiger reserve here. They also expressed fears that the declaration of the Tiger Reserve could mean dislocation of a number of villages from the area. The state government is reported to have already written to the Centre, saying that the creation of a tiger reserve here will not serve any purpose.