CleanupBot at 12:42, 3 January 2022

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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2015}}
{{Infobox park
| name = Chhilchhila Wildlife Sanctuary
| photo =
| photo_width =
| photo_caption =
| map = India Haryana#India
| map_width =
| label = Chhilchhila Wildlife Sanctuary
| map_caption = Location in Haryana
| type = Wildlife sanctuary
| location = [[Kurukshetra district]], India
| nearest_city = Bhoor Saiyda, [[Kurukshetra]]
| coords = {{coord|29|56|12.45|N|76|40|50.69|E|region:IN_dim:50000|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| area = {{convert|28.92|ha}}
| created =
| operator = Haryana Forest Department, [[Government of Haryana]]
| visitation_num =
| status =
| open =
}}

The '''Chhilchhila Wildlife Sanctuary''' (Hindi: छिलछिला वन्यजीव अभयारण्य), also known as '''Seonthi Reserve Forest''', is located near [[Kurukshetra University]] in [[Kurukshetra district]] in the Indian state of [[Haryana]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://haryanaforest.gov.in/protect.aspx |title=Haryana Forest Department |access-date=11 May 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512232130/http://haryanaforest.gov.in/protect.aspx |archive-date=12 May 2014 |df=dmy }}</ref> Baba Rodanath Dera temple is on the periphery of the Chhilchhila Sanctuary.<ref name=Kumar/>

The sanctuary is about {{Convert|20|km}} to the west of Kurukshetra University. From the [[Pehowa]]-Kurukshetra Road]] at [[Bhor Saidan]], it is nearly 10 km south on Bhor Saidan - Sarsa Road. [[Crocodile Breeding Centre, Kurukshetra]] is located at [[Bhor Saidan]] on Pehowa-Kurukshetra Road.

The Chhilchhila Sanctuary is located in a depression which has a small lake created by an embankment. The sanctuary, as a staging and wintering ground of avifauna, has recorded (between April 2009 and March 2012) 57 species (33 winter migrants, 2 summer migrants and 22 resident species) of both resident and migrant wetland birds which belong to 37 genera and 16 families. Two species which have been classified Near Endangered have been identified in the sanctuary: the [[Oriental darter]] (''Anhinga melanogaster'') and the [[painted stork]] (''Mycteria leucocephala'').<ref name=Kumar>{{Cite web|last1=Kumar|first1=Parmesh|last2=Gupta2|first2=S.K.|url=http://threatenedtaxa.org/ZooPrintJournal/2013/March/o315826iii133969-3976.pdf|title=Status of wetland birds of Chhilchhila Wildlife Sanctuary, Haryana, India|access-date=15 June 2015|work=Journal of Threatened Taxa|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129022548/http://threatenedtaxa.org/ZooPrintJournal/2013/March/o315826iii133969-3976.pdf|archive-date=29 November 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Background ==

===History ===

Chhilchhila lake was notified as a Bird Sanctuary on 28 November 1986.<ref name=dec2>[http://haryanaforest.gov.in/en-us/Wild-Life/Wildlife-Department-Service-Rules Chhilchhila Wildlife Sanctuary Notification dt. 28 Nov., 1986], Haryana Forests Department.</ref>

Under the provisions of the [[Wildlife Protection Act, 1972|Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972]] (53 of 1972) of the Government of India, a zone of {{Convert|5|km}} surrounding the sanctuary has been declared an [[Eco-Sensitive Zone|Eco-sensitive Zone]] to preserve its [[ecology]] and [[environment (biophysical)|environment]].<ref name=dec1>{{Cite web|url=http://envfor.nic.in/legis/eia/1397E.pdf|title=Ministry Of Environment And Forests Notification New Delhi, the 3rd June, 2009|access-date=15 June 2015|publisher=National Information Center|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316115335/http://www.envfor.nic.in/legis/eia/1397E.pdf|archive-date=16 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Folklore ===

According to a local legend, the lake in the sanctuary had an ancient link during the epic [[Mahabharata]] days when the [[Pandavas]] escaped to [[Haridwar]] through a tunnel under the lake.{{cn|date=November 2019}}

==Sanctuary ==

The sanctuary, as a wetland which is encircled by agricultural lands, provides adequate feeding grounds and safety for the birds that visit. The farmlands with scattered trees provide foraging areas and the lake provides a food supply to the birds in the form of [[crustaceans]] and [[invertebrates]], as well as the water plants and [[plankton]] that flourish in the lake.<ref name=Kumar/>

===Topography===

The sanctuary covers an area of {{Convert|28.92| ha}}.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://haryanaforest.gov.in/protect.aspx |title=Parks, Reserves and Other Protected Areas in Haryana |access-date=15 June 2015 |publisher=Haryana Forest Department |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512232130/http://haryanaforest.gov.in/protect.aspx |archive-date=12 May 2014 |df=dmy }}</ref>

Within the depression of the park there is a small shallow man-made lake which is supplied by good rainfall runoff;{{cn|date=November 2019}}) it is covered with marshy vegetation and its depth varies from {{Convert|4.5|m}} in the monsoon months to {{Convert|1.8|–|2.7|m}} during the summer. Within this lake there are several platforms and also mounds covered with bushes and some trees. The area around the lake is farmland.<ref name=Kumar/>

The sanctuary experiences three climatic seasons: summer (March–June), monsoon (July–September) and winter (October –February). Normal rainfall is an average of {{Convert|582|mm}} per year. Temperatures experienced in the sanctuary are a maximum of {{Convert|45|C}} in the summer and a low of {{Convert|30|C}} during winter.<ref name=Kumar/>

===Flora ===

Dry deciduous type vegetation is dominant in the sanctuary. The tree species identified are the: ''[[Acacia arabica]]'', ''[[Azadirachta indica]]'', ''[[Prosopis cineraria]]'', [[eucalyptus]], ''[[Ficus benghalensis]]'', ''[[Zizyphus jujuba]]'', ''[[Prosopis juliflora]]'', ''[[Cassia tora]]'', ''[[Ficus religiosa]]'', ''[[Dalbergia sissoo]]''. Small and medium-sized woody plants found are ''[[Capparis decidua]]'', ''[[Calotropis procera]]'', ''[[Adhatoda vasica]]'', ''[[Alhagi maurorum]]'' and ''[[Xanthium strumarium]].'' Weeds have also been noted in the sanctuary and these are ''[[Achyranthes aspera]]'', ''[[Amaranthus spinosus]]'', ''[[Boerhavia diffusa]]'', ''[[Chenopodium ambrosioides ]]'', ''Malvastrum'', and ''[[Parthenium]]''. Some of the aquatic plant species recorded are ''[[Azolla]]'', ''[[Cyperus]]'', ''[[Hydrilla]]'', and ''[[Typha]]''.<ref name=Kumar/>

===Avifauna===

The wintering migrant birds which flock to the sanctuary were recorded at different periods during the winter months. The early arrivals in October were [[gadwall]] (''Aythya ferina''), [[northern pintail]] (''Anas acuta''), [[northern shoveller]] (''Anas clypeata''), [[common teal]] (''Anas crecca''), [[common pochard]] (''Aythya ferina''), and [[common coot]] (''Fulica atra''). The birds recorded during November were [[mallard]] (''Anas platyrhynchos''), [[Indian spot-billed duck]] (''Anas poecilorhyncha''), and [[knob-billed duck]] (''Sarkidiornis melanotos''). The departure of the birds from the sanctuary was also noted in different months, towards the end of the winter season. The summer birds recorded were the [[lesser whistling duck]] (''Dendrocygna javanica'') and the [[cotton teal]] (''Nettapus coromandelianus'').<ref name=Kumar/>

==Conservation==

===Threats===

Major threats identified to the sanctuary are anthropogenic pressure involving encroachment of land, collection of firewood, grazing of cattle, and clearing of new vegetation on the borders of the wetland. During severe summer months, water reserves in the lake are inadequate to maintain the [[biodiversity]] of the environment. Improper management is also said to be causing problems.<ref name=Kumar/>

===Required conservation efforts===

Due to the threats faced by the sanctuary, the conservation measures which need to be addressed are: establishing patrols to minimize disturbance when the birds visit to breed; and enhancing the water supply to the lake, which is purely rain-fed, from any nearby canal system.<ref name=Kumar/>

==See also==
* [[List of National Parks & Wildlife Sanctuaries of Haryana, India]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Protected areas of Haryana}}
{{Districts of Haryana}}
{{Protected Areas of India}}
{{National Parks of India}}

[[Category:Wildlife sanctuaries in Haryana]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Haryana]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Kurukshetra district]]
[[Category:Protected areas with year of establishment missing]]

Chhilchhila Wildlife Sanctuary - Revision history

CleanupBot at 12:42, 3 January 2022