Monkeys at the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary in New Delhi (HT File Photo) Delhi’s forest and wildlife department is set to install 45 motion-based camera traps across the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary in the coming weeks in order to collect data on wildlife at the park can record video and capture photographs of animals for up to one minute which have captured images of animals such as leopards “Based on the success of the existing 16 camera traps These will gradually be installed at hot spots where wildlife This primarily includes areas around the watering holes that exist at Asola,” deputy conservator of forest (south) Vipul Pandey said adding that these traps are in addition to the existing cameras placed and used by Wildlife Institute of India (WII) Forest officials said the leopard population at Asola Bhatti at present is estimated to be 12 “Multiple images of leopards have been caught we have noticed they frequently come to the 200 different watering holes we have created and some even follow the same route,” said Pandey stating that the cameras will be set up at the spots where the leopards are observed more frequently A year-long leopard census by WII is already underway and is likely to be completed by January 2026 adding that the exercise will give an accurate figure of the leopard population at the sanctuary The last mammal census carried out in the area — conducted between June 2021 and June 2022 by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) — had revealed the presence of eight leopards each identified by analysing the difference in the rosette patterns on their limbs Five of the leopards were likely using the sanctuary as a permanent home Delhi’s forest and wildlife department said on Monday that it will experiment with “seed balls” to carry out a pilot project on August 10 at the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary where over 10,000 such balls will be dispersed using drones and catapults in order to boost the green cover in the sanctuary Though around 10,000 seed bombs are planned to be dropped at Asola around 90,000 more such balls will be created in the next few months and dropped across other parts of Delhi including the central Ridge and northern Ridge (HT Archive) The balls – made from a mixture of soil cowdung and neem cake – all have a seed in the centre and will be dropped in different areas of the sanctuary as part of a mega-plantation drive that starts on Saturday under which saplings will also be planted by hand A total of 100,000 such seed balls are planned to be dispersed across Delhi over this year’s monsoon with the forest department to carry out a survey after six months to one year to assess the technique’s success rate said additional principal chief conservator of forest (APCCF) Suneesh Buxy is to assess the success of such a technique on the ground based on which future plantation drives can be carried out in a similar manner which will fly above a terrain and drop these seeds Catapults will be used to throw these seeds long distances as well We also plan to test a technique called dibbling where shallow pits are created and the seeds are dropped by hand we plan to drop close to 10,000 such seeds which will be in addition to the saplings we plant manually,” said Buxy who inspected the seed balls on Sunday alongside Delhi’s principal secretary (environment and forest) the special secretary (environment) and the chief conservator of forest Officials said they had created seed balls for the activity as well as seed tablets which are rectangular in shape and smaller in size The process of creating these balls took nearly a fortnight Buxy said they had mixed the seeds with a paste consisting of soil cow dung and trichoderma – a plant-beneficial fungi with the mixture rolled into the shape of a ball “There is high humidity right now and the germination rate has also been very high The balls were dried up and kept in the shade said such a technique can particularly be useful in planting native species in inaccessible areas “This will help us in deep mining pits and undulating terrain Though around 10,000 seed bombs are planned to be dropped at Asola including the central Ridge and northern Ridge,” the official said The experimental use of seed balls to boost the green cover of Aravallis has already been performed with in the past the Haryana forest department used drones to drop close to 500,000 seed balls in four districts of Faridabad according to Haryana forest department officials the seeds did not germinate as expected when dispersed in the forest The project aimed to use drone technology to efficiently plant seeds over large areas and expedite reforestation efforts results indicated that this method did not facilitate the desired growth and germination of the seeds highlighting the need for alternative strategies to support forest regeneration,” said a senior Haryana forest department official on condition of anonymity Experts said that a number of factors need to align for this to work out ecologist and curator at the Aravalli Biodiversity Park in Gurugram said seed balls can work as a method of regeneration but they need to be dispersed before the monsoon arrives this should have been done before June and so when the first rains hit The technique also depends on the kind of species chosen as not all native species will germinate and grow this way Seed balls are ideal for grasses and any pioneer species,” Dhasmana said the Delhi government has set a target of planting 6.4 million saplings across Delhi – up from the 5.2 million target set for last year The city is set to see a butterfly and dragonfly count this month at various biodiversity parks with agencies asking volunteers to take part in the annual assessment the highest count of 25 different species was recorded at Kamla Nehru Biodiversity Park which includes damselflies – members of the odonata family of flying insects will be held between September 18 and 20 at seven biodiversity parks of the Delhi Development Authority Kamla Nehru and Kalindi biodiversity parks a butterfly count will be held over a period of two weeks beginning in the last week of September at south Delhi’s Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary (ABWS) The count is being organised by Delhi’s forest and wildlife department which is celebrating September as butterfly month Forest officials said a dedicated butterfly walk – where people will be taught about different butterflies in Delhi along with a photography competition are all planned this month Butterfly month will culminate with a census at Asola Bhatti “The count will take place over a period of two weeks Students and volunteers can also join this count a photography contest and a butterfly walk led by Ishtiyaq Ahmed from the Give me Trees Trust (GMTT) will also be held,” said a senior forest official stating they will announce the final dates of the count in the coming days The department is also contemplating cover other spots in Delhi for the butterfly count it is only being held at Asola Bhatti,” the official added Giving details about the dragonfly and damselfly count scientist in-charge at DDA’s biodiversity parks programme said the exercise will be held between September 18 and 20 from 9 am till 11 am “Dragonflies and damselflies are indicators of a healthy ecosystem A single dragonfly can consume up to 100 mosquitoes which also helps regulate their population naturally,” said Khudsar In last year’s dragonfly and damselfly census followed by 21 species at the Yamuna Biodiversity Park the overall species count has dipped slightly in comparison to 2022 on Friday announced a month-long vulture count across the country from next week to track the bird’s population An Egyptian vulture that was spotted at Asola last December which marks International Vulture Awareness Day the count will be carried out at two locations — Ghazipur landfill and Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary -- by WWF-India in collaboration with Bird Count India and eBird Vultures are considered essential indicators of a healthy ecosystem and act as the scavenger crew of nature Their population in India was generally on the decline due to several threats including ingestion of toxic non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as diclofenac that they consume while feeding on carcasses WWF-India said the count will help in monitoring the vulture population The public are also encouraged to take part in the count for which a virtual orientation will be held by birder Nirav Bhatt on September 6 said that Delhi and National Capital Region once boasted a fairly large number of vultures “Thanks to proactive birdwatching groups and citizen science tools such as eBird enthusiasts are now travelling to areas such as Asola to catch a glimpse of the species such as red-headed vulture and cinereous vulture which were seen last December after three decades WWF-India is supporting such efforts through the vulture count initiative,” Ghosh said the focus will be particularly on key vulture species As part of a survey on raptors (birds of prey) in 2022 researchers from the Bombay Natural History Society found the presence of the critically endangered red-headed vulture (Sarcogyps calvus) and the endangered Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus) at Asola a cinereous vulture (Aegypius monachus) was also spotted at Asola Mohammad Faizan is on his way to Neeli Jheel with three friends around 16km inside the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary in south Delhi has emerged a popular eco-tourism attraction over the past year landscaped gardens and that great modern-day magnet -- selfie points Visitors at Neeli Jheel at the Asola Bhatti wildlife sanctuary in New Delhi on Sunday (Arvind Yadav/HT Photo) It takes Faizan nearly 30 minutes to park his Maruti Swift Dzire: the unpaved trail to the lake is chock-a-block with other vehicles and the parking lot at the lake can only accommodate 50-60 cars — far from the number of visitors on this sunny Sunday afternoon in an otherwise cold January According to Delhi forest department officials striped hyenas and golden jackals — hosts up to 500 visitors a day The number is likely an underestimate — wildlife experts who frequently visit the sanctuary say the figure is closer to 1,000 per day on weekends One major reason for such large crowds could be the low price of entry —tickets are priced at ₹10 (entry for children below the age of 5 years is free) while it costs another ₹10 per recording device (including smartphones) Delhi’s environment minister Gopal Rai formally opened the eco-tourism spot near Neeli Jheel for visitors Delhi lieutenant governor VK Saxena had inaugurated four artificial waterfalls at the lake as part of a larger eco-tourism plan for the area the sanctuary has always been open for visitors As Neeli Jheel is around 16km inside the sanctuary most visitors are obliged to drive their private cars the sanctuary does have some golf carts to take visitors to the lake they do not set off from the sanctuary gate till they are full and they have no windows — which means that the 16km journey to the lake on a dusty The explosion in visitors to the sanctuary has alarmed wildlife and ecological experts who worry about how it could possibly undo the restoration work at this vital green lung of Delhi Asola Bhati was declared a sanctuary in 1991 and the 32.7 sqkm area is part of the southern Ridge — an extension of the Aravalli hill range — that forms an important wildlife corridor from Sariska in Rajasthan to the Capital The sanctuary has an eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) of around 15.55 sqkm (as declared by the Union ministry of environment and forests in 2017) and regulates construction and felling of trees Activities permitted include rainwater harvesting A two-year mammal census carried out by Sohail Madan — former centre manager of Asola who was part of the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) — and his team between 2019 and 2021 revealed 17 different species at the sanctuary Camera traps also captured eight different leopards Around 249 bird species have also been sighted at Asola over the years which includes birds such as the pallid harrier (Circus macrourus) and the Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus) a zoologist and birder who has been visiting the sanctuary for over two decades said the area has seen a huge change after the price of admission was slashed “There is no restriction on the number of vehicles with 200 to 300 cars every day not only leading to noise pollution adding that sightings of animals such as the golden jackal and spotted deer along the main trail has drastically reduced as a result “Even if an animal is spotted near this trail visitors stop their cars and step out to click pictures Seeing a large number of visitors invariably makes the animal flee,” Prakash said The zoologist also noted that the perfectly manicured lawns along the lake have led to a drastic reduction in the number of birds and butterflies in that area but the area has been landscaped completely because only ornamental flowers and plants are grown there now,” he said Experts believe that a “carrying capacity” — the maximum number of people allowed at any given time in an area — needs to be defined for Asola to restrict the number of visitors and vehicles entering the sanctuary to maintain ecological balance it is important to have a carrying capacity defined which at present has not been done for Asola This means there is no cap on the number of visitors at any given time and so which can lead to disturbances in animals’ habitat,” said Sohail Madan there have been some attempts to define a carrying capacity for Asola “We see this already in place at locations like Jim Corbett or Sariska where only a limited number of vehicles – with permits — are allowed there is a maximum cap on the number of visitors,” he said HT visited the sanctuary on Sunday afternoon but managed to enter only after a long queue at the ticket counter with each visitor asked to share the registration number of the vehicle they were taking inside along with the total number visitors in each vehicle a handwritten slip was handed over to the visitors “allowing” them to go on ahead in their vehicle Visitors to the sanctuary can also log on to the Delhi forest department website and buy tickets online so the queue at the ticket counter is not a true reflection of the actual number of visitors on any given day “I came here after watching an Instagram reel which described the sanctuary as a hidden gem of Delhi I saw a video of the lake and how scenic it looked so we thought of having a picnic here,” said Achal Gupta despite signage asking visitors to not take their vehicles on certain trails and there are no guards to ensure compliance Rhesus macaques were visible near the trail where the vehicles were plying and a bevy of spotted deer saw at least five vehicles stopping to click pictures with some visitors trying to enter the forested patch for a better view scientist in-charge of DDA’s Biodiversity Parks programme just the sound of vehicles can be enough to make an animal flee the number of vehicles allowed is defined and pre-registered by the forest department It is important to have such restrictions in place,” he said HT reached out to the forest and wildlife department which said it was planning to curtail the number of vehicles to 20 in the near future “We have observed that a lot of vehicles are entering inside We plan to bring down the permitted number of vehicles in a day to 20 but this will be done once we have enough electric golf carts available,” said Suneesh Buxy Delhi’s principal chief conservator of forest and chief wildlife warden said the sanctuary was being run and maintained by the Delhi forest department The Delhi government did not respond to HT’s queries for comment Emily Asola, a hurdler for the Valdosta High School girls track team, has been named the ITG Next 2021-22 Valdosta High School Athlete of the Year, presented by Publix And while she is a top hurdler for the Wildcast it wasn’t the first sport that she tried and did well at “My uncle actually began teaching me tennis when I was 5 years old and then my Dad stepped in and just took over because he plays everything so me and my brother played a lot against each other growing up.”  Asola began to run cross country in the seventh grade and continued to do it and play tennis up until the 10th grade which is when she decided to quit tennis and focus strictly on track and cross country She now focuses on the track events of the 100-meter hurdles Asola said that she has tried the 100 dash and the 4×400 relay the endurance and distance running can be tough Her performance this season on the track has been no joke either She qualified for the state meet with her performances in several events at the region meet She qualified for the girls 100 hurdles and 300 low hurdles Asola placed fifth in the state in the 300 hurdles with a time of 15.12 seconds She said that her father moved to the United States to obtain a master’s degree and ultimately a doctorate in kinesiology “My dad earned his degrees and then brought us over to America when I was 3,” Asola said Asola and her family first came to Boston upon entering the U.S. and from there they moved wherever her dad’s teaching jobs took them where her father was hired as a professor at Valdosta State University “I met a lot of great people around the country Asola plans to pursue a degree in computer pcience while attending Georgia State University As far as a scholarship to run track with the Georgia State track team the ITG Next 2021-22 Valdosta High School Athlete of the Year ITG Next is your go-to source for high school sports media coverage in Georgia and listen to the latest news and opinions in the high school sports world Want to get the content before anyone else Contact us: info@itgnext.com © Copyright 2024 M & S Media Group INC In a significant move aimed at addressing the menace of stray animals in the capital the Delhi High Court on Friday directed the shifting of all monkeys in Delhi to the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary This decision is part of the court’s efforts to improve the safety of the city’s differently-abled population who have been particularly affected by stray animals The directive came from a bench comprising Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela who were responding to a public interest litigation plea by the NGO Dhananjay Sanjogta Foundation represented by visually-impaired lawyer Rahul Bajaj argued that the presence of stray dogs and monkeys significantly hinders the mobility and safety of people with disabilities The court expressed its concern over reports of stray animals including those suffering from various disabilities who have a genuine problem,” the bench noted emphasizing the need for a balanced and respectful approach to dealing with stray animals while prioritizing human welfare The Chief Justice stressed that while animals deserve respect The court highlighted that stray animals should not be allowed to overrun public spaces like streets which should be safe and accessible for all the court also directed the Delhi chief secretary to convene a crucial meeting on November 4 This meeting will involve key stakeholders including heads of the New Delhi Municipal Council along with the secretary of the Animal Welfare Board of Delhi and representatives from the Animal Welfare Board of India The goal is to formulate a comprehensive plan to address the issue of strays effectively the court pointed out the severe impact of stray animals on essential public spaces It cited the example of the Tis Hazari court complex which has become inaccessible after 4 pm due to the takeover by monkeys significantly disrupting the functioning of judicial services The authorities have been ordered to ensure that the relocation of monkeys is carried out on a priority basis with the next hearing scheduled for November 18 to assess the progress of the initiative   Videos what has brought monkeys down on street and pavements It’s we who have enticed the monkeys out of their natural habitat by feeding them” directed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and New Delhi Municipal Corporation to transfer the monkeys ‘from public parks government offices and residential areas and rehabilitate in Asola-Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary’ The court noted that while monkeys in their natural behavior lived in tree tops rarely coming down to the ground harms them and puts them in conflict with people” The bench of Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela further directed that “The civic agencies should carry out a sustained year long public awareness campaign to inform people how their feeding is not benefitting the monkeys That in fact feeding harms the animals in various ways by increasing their dependence on humans and reduces natural distance between wild animals and humans” Through an amendment to the Wildlife Protection Act a species of monkey commonly found in Delhi the rhesus macaque no longer enjoyed protected status under the Wildlife Protection Act and was to be treated by civic authorities in the same manner as stray cats or dogs The court noted that the monkeys in their natural forest habitats lived on treetops the question arose as to why these monkeys had increasingly appeared on streets and pavements People had lured the monkeys from their natural environments by feeding them and bananas to monkeys harmed them and created conflicts between monkeys and humans civic agencies were advised to conduct a sustained This campaign aimed to inform the public that feeding monkeys did not benefit them; rather it harmed the animals by increasing their dependence on humans and reducing the natural distance between wild animals and people recognizing that feeding wild animals was detrimental to both animal welfare and human safety Another crucial aspect of the urban ecosystem was waste management Improper disposal of garbage in public parks If the residents of Delhi sought a safer environment they would need to adopt better habits and avoid littering food in public spaces This issue also required emphasis in the public awareness campaign to be undertaken by civic authorities were directed to formulate and implement a comprehensive program to address the monkey menace they were required to ensure that monkeys were relocated from public parks and rehabilitated in the Asola-Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary and Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital were instructed to submit an updated status report within three weeks with the matter scheduled for further hearing on 25th October 2024 Please Login or Register to save the story Please Login or Register to delete saved story Private vehicles will no longer be permitted into the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary taking cognisance of an HT report in January that highlighted how hundreds of vehicles were entering the sanctuary on weekends to reach a lake 16-km inside PREMIUM HT reported on January 16 how hundreds of visitors were turning up and driving into the sanctuary (Arvind Yadav/HT Photo) HT reported on January 16 how hundreds of visitors were turning up and driving into the sanctuary dozens of cars had choked the way to Neeli Jheel which has emerged as popular eco-tourism attraction over the past year with artificial waterfalls and landscaped gardens Officials aware of the matter said on Sunday that the chief wildlife warden Suneesh Buxy sent the directive to the deputy conservator of forests (South) barring the entry of outside vehicles to the sanctuary and asking for standard operating procedures (SOP) for guided tours inside the facility outlined the ecological pressures of tourism on Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary The article has been taken into serious consideration and hence apart from official vehicles and vehicles used for plantation purposes would be allowed inside the sanctuary area You are hereby directed to stop all vehicular movement and adopt eco-friendly measures like cycle tours guided bicycle rides and EV golf carts for transport especially plastic littering should be prohibited,” said the order It further said that each tour must be a guided one and that cycle tours should be allowed in groups of a maximum of 10 people only made in order to prevent any ecological damage inside He added that the SOP was under process and should be finalised soon “These are precautionary measures and we are looking to add additional golf carts and cycles Vehicles inside the sanctuary have been restricted and only government vehicles for patrolling plantation and forest activities are permitted,” he said and the 32.7 sqkm area is part of the Southern Ridge — an extension of the Aravalli hill range — that forms an important wildlife corridor from Sariska in Rajasthan to the Capital When HT had carried out a spot-check on January 15 it found a parking near Neeli Jheel to accommodate over 50 vehicles but at least 100-150 vehicles could were seen in queue Cars were also seen stopping regularly along the trail to click photographs of animals like the spotted deer and golden jackal five different vehicles queued up to click photographs of a bevy of spotted deer with some individuals entering the forested patch for a better view Experts said the move is a welcome one as it will reduce the amount of disruption humans can create inside the sanctuary watering holes have been created and a number of animals which would earlier come to these had stopped coming due to the sound of vehicles and the sheer number of vehicles passing by This move should help change that and also prevent habitat destruction,” said Surya Prakash Get 360° coverage—from daily headlines to 100 year archives This review first appeared in Issue 77 of Cyclist magazine it hasn’t taken that long for disc brakes to become an accepted norm on road bikes descriptions of disc-equipped bikes still often include the caveat: ‘It’s quite aerodynamic for a disc bike’ or ‘It’s pretty light for a disc bike’ Check out the Sarto Asola Disc bike at Sarto Bikes It may be dressed up in Campagnolo’s Super Record H11 disc groupset but its heft (or rather its lack of it) demonstrates that the performance gap between disc brake road bikes and rim brake bikes is reducing all the time ‘There’s no secret to it – we’re simply getting more extensive opportunities to refine our designs,’ says Sarto’s Manuel Columbo Only 300 Sarto-badged frames left its Italian factory in Pianiga and only a small percentage of those were disc bikes That doesn’t seem like ‘extensive’ experience on the face of it but it’s important to remember that Sarto-branded bikes represent only a fraction of the company’s total production Sarto is a custom contractor that fabricates frames for many other brands It’s a fitting line of work explained in brand’s name – Sarto is Italian for tailor Columbo tells us there has been a huge upsurge in the demand for disc frames with most of the brands Sarto produces for scrambling to get one into their own collections It means Sarto is exposed to a wide variety of carbon road disc designs and therefore has plenty of opportunity to learn what works best before then applying that to its own frames the frames Sarto builds under its own name remain completely exclusive and as such won’t be available under any other label Sarto has been able to produce this Asola Disc frameset at just 150g more than the regular Asola and the difference could actually have been smaller still The top weave of 1K carbon is only cosmetic but is necessary ‘to produce a distinctive finish There have been changes to the fork and the chainstays on the Asola Disc but otherwise the look of the Asola – a bike for the purists among us – has been maintained the Asola is the lightest and the most classic-looking with round tubes and fairly standard geometry and Columbo says Sarto works in this way because it is the only real possibility if you want to offer a fully custom frame ‘It’s so much better for checking the quality of the product too,’ he says weight and thickness can all be assessed more accurately compared to a monocoque construction so ultimately the ride quality and integrity of the frame is more consistent.’ This Asola Disc was built to my measurements so I was predisposed to suit it but even then I was surprised to discover quite how at ease I was on the bike from the very first pedal stroke It was like buying a brand new pair of brogues to find they had already been broken in to my feet There are some who suggest that custom-built frames are unnecessary and that for most riders a stock bike can be adjusted to fit just as well A custom frame possesses something extra that is unquantifiable this manifested itself in the handling – it just seemed to be more assured Geometry goes some way to explaining the pleasing balance between reactivity and stability Relatively short 408mm chainstays create a tight back end while a slacker than normal 72.5° head tube lengthens the front centre enough to keep the bike from being twitchy at high speeds It created the sense that I could steer the bike with my hips Combined with Campagnolo’s H11 disc system the Asola Disc was one of the most confident descenders I’ve ever ridden I happen to think that it produces easily the most elegant groupsets of the big three manufacturers with a performance that matches both Shimano and Sram it was the perfect accompaniment to the Sarto frame When I wasn’t diving through the corners of my local Dorset lanes I found the Asola Disc to be equally agreeable on the straights so even over broken or loose surfaces it didn’t get skittish or uncomfortable and I would return from long rides still feeling relatively fresh Some of the comfort afforded by the Asola Disc will be down to the 28mm tyres and if I’d decided that I needed even more cushioning or grip there is scope to go even wider Sarto has designed the Asola Disc to accept up to 32mm tyres Progressive touches such as this are welcome reassurance that Sarto is not content just to trade on its heritage or its subcontracted work but that instead it can keep pace with trends and provide performance levels to match big-name brands in its own right Many years ago there was a belief that the advent of off-the-peg suits would prove to be the death of Savile Row there will always be a need for a good tailor You must be logged in to post a comment To manage an existing Cyclist magazine subscription, please visit Manage your account or visit our subscription FAQ page. To subscribe, or for other enquiries, please contact us Sign up to the Cyclist newsletter to receive curated emails direct to your inbox Sign up to our newsletter Log in to access Cyclist Rides using your email pertaining to your subscription Don't forget a subscription to Cyclist includes: Log in to post comments and use Ask Cyclist our AI platform that answers your questions based on our articles Register to comment on our latest articles Occasional emails from selected third-party sponsors and advertisers Please enter your username or email address to reset your password The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) has begun work on a decade-long management plan for the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary with a focus on increasing the leopard population and simultaneously mitigating the man-animal conflict Delhi forest department officials said on Friday The plan is likely to be ready by next year The existing management plan of the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary came into force in 2015 and will remain in place till next year (HT Archive) The existing management plan of the sanctuary came into force in 2015 and will remain in place till next year prepared by the Forest Research Institute (FRI) focused heavily on restoration of degraded habitats at the sanctuary The other focus area of the plan was to create a fruit-rich natural habitat for the monkeys in the area and to weed out invasive plant species particularly the vilayati kikar (prosopis juliflora) and lantana (lantana camara) A senior forest department official said WII carried out its first ground survey earlier this month with research to commence from next month for a period of one year in which a team of at least five researchers from WII will set up camera traps assess the types of flora and fauna and interact with people living in the vicinity of the sanctuary focused on habitat restoration to a large extent The new management plan will be focused on man-animal conflict mitigation We will look to replicate successful models such as the Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Mumbai where locals in the vicinity have learnt to live fearlessly with the leopard population,” said Delhi’s Chief wildlife warden Suneesh Buxy and added that WII is preparing the plan on behalf of the forest department He said the plan will also include water and soil-conservation measures; raising awareness about conservation measures and wildlife through eco-tourism and to increase the greenery in the sanctuary further through native species Management plans list long-term targets or measures that a wildlife sanctuary or national park needs to focus on for the next decade It also identified conservation practices that need to be prioritised and species which need special attention Though leopards were a rare sight when the last management plan was made in 2014 their number has increased rapidly over the past decade A study carried out jointly by the Delhi forest department and the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) in 2022 has shown that there were at least eight leopards in the sanctuary indicating there may be as many as 10 leopards living in the sanctuary A second forest department official said through the course of research for the management plan researchers from WII also aim to look at possible routes the leopards are taking and accordingly formulate measures to reduce man-animal conflict based on which the final plan will be prepared the team will also interact with locals in the vicinity and create awareness on how to co-exist with leopards and the remaining wildlife inside,” the official said leopards were seen in the on different occasions in Sainik Farms area for almost a week prompting the forest department to set up cages to trap the animal “A management plan gives an insight into the predators and the prey present in the area and through it one can maintain an ideal prey to predator balance Habitat restoration is still required in parts of Asola as the overall area was highly degraded when the sanctuary was formed more herbivores like the spotted deer will naturally come which in turn provides ample food for the leopards,” said C.R Babu head of the Centre for Environmental Management of Degraded Ecosystems (CEMDE) stating a management plan also includes guidelines on what needs to be done when animals like leopards stray out “Awareness needs to be created in the neighbouring areas which includes not provoking the animal when sighted not dumping litter or waste near the sanctuary which can attract the animal and to alert authorities if a sighting is made People need to be taught not to panic or attack the animal and the animal will also not retaliate,” he added because fortunately good products are more common than bad Purchases made after clicking on those links may help support road.cc by earning us a commission but all of our reviews are fully independent smooth-riding frameset that handles beautifully but you can have this Italian beauty made to measure and built with the features you want Sarto is what you could class as a boutique brand for example: about 1.6 million bikes per year > Order this from your local dealer, find yours here the geometry (see below) was good for me with a 570mm seat tube 193mm head tube and 73-degree frame angles you can have the exact geometry that you want thanks to Sarto's bespoke service The Asola is built from M55J and M46J carbon-fibre tubes that are assembled into a frame using a tube-to-tube technique Most carbon fibre frames are made in moulds but tube-to-tube is an entirely different way of doing things The tubes are cut to length – in Sarto's case usually lengths dictated by the individual's requirements – put onto a jig and bonded together Then the frame undergoes a laminating process to join the tubes together more strongly 'The resin that remains in the joints ensures that the laminated frames are generally more comfortable than monocoque structures maintaining their rigidity and performance.' Sarto then applies an outer layer of carbon fibre to seal the laminations and provide the finish tube-to-tube is a labour-intensive process but it allows you to choose your own geometry and the bottom bracket standard you want You can also opt for either a standard or an integrated seatpost and have the frame built for electronic or mechanical shifting the frame can be finished in whatever colour you like all straight lines and round tubes in the front triangle the down tube is pretty meaty and the head tube is tapered but on the whole this frame has a sober appearance quietly dignified rather than shouting about its status The stays depart from the restrained script and ad lib a little The chainstays are boxy in profile while the seatstays are slim and sculpted the idea being to add some comfort to the back end The bottom bracket on our review bike is Press-Fit 30 although you can have a different standard if you like Rather than going for an integrated seatpost we have a 27.2mm diameter seatpost instead Our bike arrived built up with a complete Campagnolo Chorus groupset that we'll be reviewing separately Chorus is the third tier groupset in the Italian brand's lineup The wheels are from Campag too: Shamal Ultras shod with Continental Grand Prix 4000 tyres in a 25mm width In this guise the Asola hit the road.cc Scales of Truth at 6.94kg (15.3lb) Sarto claims a raw (unpainted) Asola frame weighs 700g The Asola rides like a lightweight bike too floating up to speed gracefully when you turn up the power dials What has really surprised me about this frameset is that it combines that light weight with an ability to remain totally unfazed when you get out of the saddle and really hammer be that on a fiendish climb or in an all-out sprint The Asola doesn't really look like it's going to offer particularly high frame stiffness Some frames just look rigid: the down tube is a colossal scaffold pole of a thing and the chainstays appear to have been fashioned from a spare part for a JCB The Asola is more elegant and sophisticated than that but still holds firm when you sling it about There are certainly bikes out there that are more rigid around the bottom bracket (Sarto claims that its own Dinamica is for a start) but the Asola feels great on a power climb – you know sharp hills when you just want to get up on the pedals Some frames will squirm about in that situation drifting from side to side just enough to put you off the job in hand politely going where you ask it to without getting too distracted by road conditions It's not one of those lightweight bikes that bounces about and does its own thing when the road surface is less than perfect which is a good job because the road surface is nearly always less than perfect > Like your bikes Italian flavoured? Here are some we saw at this year's Eurobike show The overall ride quality is up there with the very best The Asola doesn't isolate you from the road to the same degree as some endurance bikes out there but on the other hand it doesn't feel the need to tell you about every little detail either and I'd have no problem recommending it for even the longest of rides This is an exceptionally good frameset all-round I'm really struggling to think of anything negative to say about it Exceptional carbon fibre frameset that's made to measure in Italy; a superb climber with an outstanding ride quality State the frame and fork material and method of construction List the components used to build up the bike The Asola is built from M55J and M46J carbon fibre tubes They are assembled into a frame using a tube-to-tube technique; the frame doesn't come out of a mould How does that compare to your own feelings about the bike "Awarded by Tour magazine as one of the best frames in the world for the incredible light weight Asola represents the ultimate expression of technique by Sarto countless hours of testing and hundreds of materials characterizations Sarto has succeeded in making a super carbon frame: Asola "This road bicycle is characterized by a sober and essential design: round straight tubes Asola has been specifically designed for riders looking for essence Tell us about the build quality and finish of the frame and fork Tell us about the geometry of the frame and fork Nearly everyone who buys this bike will have the frame made to measure That's one of the main reasons why it's made in a tube-to-tube method: so the geometry can be spot on for each customer Tell us how you felt about the ride quality It filters out enough of the road imperfections to keep you comfortable without isolating you entirely from the feedback you need Did the bike feel stiff in the right places Did any part of the bike feel too stiff or too flexible The bottom bracket area is stiff – not the most rigid ever Was there any toe-clip overlap with the front wheel I've ridden bikes with an overall weight quite a bit lower but the Asola gets the work done with very little fuss If I had the money for a made-to-measure bike but if you have the money and you're not exactly stock size I think that in this case the performance score overrides the value score and that an exceptional bike like the Asola deserves a 9 I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Expert I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting please consider subscribing to the site to support us directly As a subscriber you can read road.cc ad-free The revenue from adverts helps to fund our site then please consider subscribing to road.cc from as little as £1.99 Our mission is to bring you all the news that’s relevant to you as a cyclist and he has been editor of 220 Triathlon and Cycling Plus Mat has been road.cc technical editor for over a decade and trying out the most up-to-the-minute clothing He has won his category in Ironman UK 70.3 and finished on the podium in both marathons he has run Mat is a Cambridge graduate who did a post-grad in magazine journalism and he is a winner of the Cycling Media Award for Specialist Online Writer he's riding road and gravel bikes most days for fun and fitness rather than training for competitions Pushes the limits of what's achievable on an allroad bike and the handmade build quality is stunning Pushed hard on price from high-end competitors but its excellent ride quality and performance help offset that easy-to-ride titanium gravel bike finished to a high standard road.cc's audience Report an advert on road.cc Privacy policy Subscribe All material © Farrelly Atkinson (F-At) Limited, Unit 7b Green Park Station BA11JB. Tel 01225 588855. © 2008–present unless otherwise stated. Terms and conditions of use Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker The cinereous vulture (Aegypius monachus) — a rare bird classified as “near threatened” and one of the largest raptors in the world — has been sighted at the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary making it the first such sighting of the bird in over five decades in Delhi the cinereous vulture travels thousands of kilometres from Europe towards western India but seldom Delhi the cinereous vulture travels thousands of kilometres from Europe towards western India — including Rajasthan said it was extremely rare for the vulture to land in the Capital The last confirmed sighting of the bird in Delhi was made on the Yamuna floodplains in June 1969 It was classified as “near threatened” by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) “The bird used to regularly be sighted in Delhi till the late 60s it stopped visiting over the last few decades It is suspected that it is using Delhi as a stopover before flying towards Rajasthan,” said Prakash who has been birding for the last 35 years The raptor is a sober dark brown shade flanked by broad wings and a slightly wedged tail It is an altitudinal migrant — which means it migrates from a higher to a lower altitude Prakash said he spotted the bird flying over the Neeli Jheel on Saturday where other vultures have also been sighted in the past a large congregation of Egyptian vultures were spotted over the lake Prakash said a similar congregation of 53 Egyptian vultures was seen at the same spot in 2018 “I noticed two raptors flying above the lake It was flying alongside an Egyptian vulture but the cinereous vulture is nearly 3.5 times bigger and stood out,” he said adding that the bird migrates from Spain and other parts of Europe towards western India every year “It moves from places where the winter is harsh as it cannot tolerate the cold,” he added author of the book The Birds of the Delhi Area: An Annotated Checklist said the bird was photographed sitting on the Yamuna sandbank by birder Usha Ganguli during its last visit to Delhi in 1969 “This sighting at Asola is indeed significant,” Vyas said Vyas noted about the cinereous vulture in his book: “They were recorded as uncommon winter visitors to refuse dumps about Delhi with observations from the 1940s till 1969 Birder Kanwar B Singh said the vulture is a regular visitor during winter in Rajasthan He said Delhi is at the extreme end of its winter migratory range with the bird likely to have flown this side in search of carcasses “I have spotted them in Panchkula in Haryana It normally reaches the northwest and western parts of the country but the bird is also known to forage over long distances and during the day Maybe that is how it reached Delhi,” said Singh A leopard was spotted near the Asola Bhatti sanctuary along the Delhi-Haryana border on Saturday night after a gap of exactly six months The last time a leopard was spotted inside Asola Bhatti Sanctuary was on February 18 on Delhi’s side The Asola Bhatti Sanctuary has around 18 mammal species and 26 reptiles and amphibians.(Picture for representation) The Delhi Forest department plans to set up boards inside the sanctuary to raise awareness among locals “A leopard was spotted just outside the sanctuary around 9:30 pm on Saturday less than 50 metres,” said a senior forest department official requesting anonymity Two men in a car spotted the leopard on Karni Singh Road It was probably stalking a Nilgai because the men also saw a Nilgai close by When they returned to the spot with a few other men the next morning they found the carcass of the Nilgai around 200 metres from where the leopard was spotted The Nilgai was partially eaten and there were laceration wounds in its neck prompting forest officials to believe it was indeed a leopard The news was soon relayed to the Delhi forest department “Sometimes people mistake other wildcat species or even a dog as a leopard when they see it at night But Asola has no other cat species larger than a leopard which can bring down an animal like Nilgai,” the official said citing an example in which locals claimed to have spotted a leopard near the Air Force station at Narela The last time a leopard was spotted inside Asola Bhatti Sanctuary was on February 18 on Delhi’s side “Though the leopard was spotted in Haryana We will put up boards in the sanctuary to raise awareness about leopards Locals frequently use the forest roads at night,” the official said Haryana had recently said in a report to the union environment and forest ministry that even though the sanctuary has long been a leopard habitat there have been no sighting of the animal in the recent past “The leopard spotted at the sanctuary is not the first of its kind to reside in Delhi nor will it be the last The city’s landscape has historically supported not only leopards but also gazelles and wolves Though much of the Aravalli hills has been invaded by construction and the wildlife here has substantially diminished patches of the forest still provide refuge to many wild animals,” said Sohail Madan centre manager at Conservation Education Centre maintained by the Bombay Natural History Society at the sanctuary The forest and wildlife department will develop a second native seeds nursery at the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary which will be able to produce around six lakh saplings in one go The new nursery is being developed near the old one and a majority of the saplings produced will be utilised by the department as part of its annual plantation targets (HT Photo) A tender has been floated for the project at an estimated cost of ₹2.01 crore and slated to be four times bigger than the existing one It will largely plant eight rare tree species which are either native to Delhi or the Aravalli hill ranges Read here: Peeragarhi set to emerge as key Metro interchange station in West Delhi the department developed its first native seeds nursery with an aim to regrow plants in their native place in prominent numbers.The nursery produces around 2 lakh saplings and is spread on a couple of acres The new nursery is being developed near the old one and a majority of the saplings produced will be utilised by the department as part of its annual plantation targets the latest one is also being developed by the forest department in collaboration with the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) which had identified 22 native trees for conservation purposes in 2021 These included endangered native tree species Adusa (Malabar Nut) Guggal (Indian Bdellium) or Gunja (Indian Ash Tree) among others said the new nursery will replicate the practices from the first nursery allowing the department to not only plant these native trees in Asola “After this new nursery becomes operational we will be able to produce around 8 lakh saplings in one go a lot of which can be either distributed free of cost or planted to meet our annual targets This will ensure native species which are not seen as much in Delhi once again start returning in prominent numbers,” he said and said eight endangered native tree species will be the focus of the second nursery Kulu (Indian tragacanth) and Guggal (Indian Bdellium) “This new nursery will act as an extension of the old one and allow us to preserve endangered native species and grow them at a much larger scale 900 more nursery beds will soon be added,” Madan said stating seeds of these native species had been collected over a five year period from several states in order to build a seed bank The forest department requires around 100 labourers for setting up the new nursery and assist in activities such as watering the saplings growing them during different seasons and seedling transplantation into larger pots “The tender is for the engagement of 100 labourers for raising a new nursery near the animal enclosure at Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary at Tughlakabad for a period of one year under the south forest division,” according to the tender Read here: Restore Sanjay lake by June 30, says Delhi LG an ecologist and curator at the Aravalli Biodiversity Park in Gurugram said while the species selected are important it is essential to grow them in the right terrain we need to start planting them in the right places A native tree is important for the overall ecology and it also grows much faster and uses much less water than an invasive tree.” birders spotted a red-headed vulture (Sarcogyps calvus) in the Bhatti mines area of Delhi on January 20 the same week a “rarest of rare” black vulture (Coragyps atratus) was sighted in Gurugram’s Chandu Budhera PREMIUM The red-headed vulture is “critically endangered” with less than 10,000 of these birds existing worldwide (Courtesy: Manan Singh Mahadev) The bird was spotted during an ongoing winter raptor survey which is carried out by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) each year at the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary (ABWS) The bird is “critically endangered” according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) centre manager at ABWS and a member of BNHS said the bird was last sighted in the area in 2017 It has been spotted in Mangar Bani (part of NCR) a couple of times after 2017 as well ALSO READ: Wildbuzz: Such beautiful eyes “It is considered a rare sighting for NCR and was spotted here after six years It was last recorded during the winter raptor survey as well While the bird can survive in several habitats the count of vultures has remained low in India since the mid-2000s,” Madan said adding the birds form an important part of the ecosystem as they are scavengers “They effectively clear carcasses and the pathogens that exist within them,” he said said long-term vulture population surveys across 13 states in central northern and eastern India show the population decline of the bird has stabilised since diclofenac — a drug toxic to these birds — was banned for veterinary use in 2006 none of the vulture species is showing a recovery in population While the near-removal of diclofenac seems to be working and helping halt population decline are still used widely for veterinary purposes They have the same impact as diclofenac,” he said adding vulture-safe veterinary drugs such as meloxicam and tolfenamic acid need to be promoted instead ALSO READ: DRI cracks down on wildlife trafficking, 7 held at Bengaluru airport Madan said Egyptian vultures are now being spotted more frequently at Asola “Egyptian vultures are now being sighted more often and they have a stable population here There is a gradual need for more vulture species to also establish a decent count,” he added BNHS has launched a nationwide survey to track vulture population across the country with the results to be released in March 2023 over 70 surveys have been held to record raptors the endangered Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus) steppe eagle (Aquila nipalensis) and the vulnerable greater spotted eagle (Clanga clanga) A near-threatened pallid harrier (Circus macrourus) was also recorded for the first time in November 2017 officials at the Asola Bhatti wildlife sanctuary recorded the northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) in February 2022 the first ever photographic record for the Himalayan species in Delhi ALSO READ: Give 1,300 mgd water to Delhi, CM urges Centre said the bird is fairly rare for NCR and is most frequently spotted around the Asola-Bhatti area “There are on-and-off sightings every year or so in NCR with only one sighting throughout the year,” he added birders in NCR spotted a black vulture in Chandu Budhera Birders suspect it may have escaped the clutches of wildlife traffickers You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience the fire occurred on the ground floor due to a short circuit.The fire had also engulfed some vehicles and electric metres in the stilt parking of the building.A total of 10 electric metres six motorcycles and two scooters were gutted in the fire The fire started at around 3:00 to 3:30 am but no one knew as everyone was sleeping People outside the building were shouting that there was a fire I was confused about how to escape so I jumped from the first floor to escape the fire Police rescued the other people through the roofs of the other buildings and those who came through the stairs got burned." (ANI) Gujarat: Fire breaks out in kutcha houses in Dahod Gujarat: Four people drown in Shetrunji river in Amreli Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel concludes online admission allotment for over 20,000 CET-qualified students Gujarat CM allocates over 20,000 Standard 5 students to residential schools NHRC takes suo motu cognizance of explosion that killed three workers in Telangana's Yadadri Bhongir Maharashtra: Fire breaks out at garments show room in Mumbai J-K: Security forces bust terror hideout in Poonch copyrights © aninews.in | All rights Reserved A striped hyena was spotted at the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary (ABWS) on Friday in what is reportedly the first sighting of the animal in the park since 2018 when wildlife officials found its pug marks there The cameras were installed inside the park in March this year as part of the census of all mammals inside the sanctuary Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) at Asola said the animal was captured on one of the 22 camera traps inside the sanctuary “There has been indirect evidence of a striped hyena in 2018 and 2017 but this is the first photographic evidence of the animal in a long time,” said Madan The cameras were installed inside the park in March this year as part of the census of all mammals inside the sanctuary The census aims to cover the mammalian diversity inside the sanctuary which is spread across an area of 2,782 hectares confirmed the sighting and said that the animal is likely to have come from the Aravalli belt in Haryana we have been observing striped hyenas and their pug marks during the winter one such hyena has been captured on a camera trap It is possible that there were more,” he said Experts said striped hyenas are nocturnal omnivores and can survive on small mammals They said these animals typically prefer a scrub forest scientist in-charge at the Yamuna Biodiversity Park in North Delhi said hyenas are scavengers and can live close to human settlements and the Indian hyena is generally known to not live in packs We have seen them survive close to human settlements where there is plenty of waste including carcasses and meat that gets dumped with garbage,” said Khudsar He said the sighting of the animal was a good sign for the animal habitat said striped hyenas have similar food habits as the golden jackal “The animal was last seen around 2015 in the Dera Mandi area but sightings on the Delhi side are rare,” he said the camera traps at the sanctuary also captured a leopard spotted barely 250 metres away from the office of the DCF (south) Delhi’s forest and wildlife department is set to carry out a leopard census at the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary in south Delhi — the first such exercise in the Capital focused only on the big cat — to get a fresh estimate of their population in the area After the Asola Bhatti census is complete the department plans to carry out a similar exercise across Delhi’s biodiversity parks under the jurisdiction of DDA will be carried out over a period of three months and will involve around 20 camera traps the department also plans to carry out a similar exercise across Delhi’s biodiversity parks under the jurisdiction of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) The department is currently in the process of procuring the camera traps Asola Bhatti is Delhi’s lone wildlife sanctuary which is spread over an area of 32.71 sq km in the southern Ridge The last mammal census carried out in the area — conducted between June 2021 and June 2022 — had revealed the presence of eight leopards Five of the leopards were likely using the space as a permanent home the mammal census had also revealed the presence of striped hyenas which were possibly born after the exercise was completed there have been multiple sightings of leopards in Delhi — at south Delhi’s Sainik Farms area in December 2023 (a location close to the sanctuary); a leopard that was found dead on NH-44 in north Delhi’s Alipur also in December 2023; a leopard that was spotted in outer Delhi’s Bawana in January this year; and a leopard that injured eight people in north Delhi’s Jagatpur on April 1 though officials suspected that the leopard had entered Jagatpur from the nearby Yamuna Biodiversity Park the big cat was caught and released at Asola Bhatti “Following the latest encounter with the leopard the chief secretary has issued instructions to carry out a leopard census This will be done to assess the leopard population at Asola and also assess the possible corridors leopards are using While we will initially only do a census at Asola we also plan to eventually cover the biodiversity parks in Delhi as well,” said Suneesh Buxy While the previous study at Asola was a joint exercise by the forest department and the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) forest officials said that this time around they will go it by themselves “The department is procuring camera traps and around 20 traps will be placed around the sanctuary based on the possible areas where they are likely to be present Data will be collected for a period of two to three months after which the images will be analysed for leopard movement and their count,” Buxy said the department had also announced it would be creating a standard operating procedure for leopards in Delhi based on which sensitisation programmes will be carried out in different parts of Delhi on what to do when a leopard is spotted This will involve sensitising locals about the animal’s behaviour along with do’s and don’ts when coming face to face with the animal a scientist in charge of DDA’s biodiversity parks programme in Delhi said that a leopard census can prove useful in identifying the corridors that leopards are using to move across the Aravallis “Based on the areas where pugmarks are seen camera traps can be placed and this will allow rigorous collection of data and will ultimately help identify their exact population This data can be used to know which routes are being used by leopards There has been a fresh sighting of a leopard at the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary by a forest patrol late Saturday night The leopard caught on camera by a forest patrolling team on Saturday night (Sourced) “The leopard was captured on camera by a patrolling team We believe there are three to four leopards presently living inside the sanctuary a leopard sighting was a rare occurrence but is becoming increasingly frequent in the past two to three years,” a forester said The increased frequency of leopard sightings is an indication that conservation efforts are paying off Multiple images of leopards were also captured on camera traps last year following the launch of a mammal census at the sanctuary in March 2021 carried out by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) in collaboration with state forest department Habitat improvement and reduced human interference are likely reasons for leopard signing “Broken boundary walls were fixed and plantation of native shrubs grasses and trees are attracting more herbivores,” he said “More watering holes have been created and specific plantation is being done especially in degraded areas where people would frequent earlier Boundary walls through which cars and bikes entered the sanctuary have been fixed and this has also reduced the human footprint inside This eventually attracts the top-level predators,” the official said The ongoing study has revealed the presence of at least two leopards with more expected to be either present or frequently coming into the sanctuary “At least two different leopards were captured on the camera traps and a combination of rejuvenation efforts and reduced human footprint inside has helped create a more stable ecosystem for leopards,” said Madan adding that there may be up to five leopards in the sanctuary Delhi is no stranger to leopard sightings as the animal often ventures into the capital through the Aravallis central and northern ridges are also extensions of the Aravalli landscape with the southern ridge proving to be the most common location where leopards are seen a leopard was recorded on CCTV cameras in southwest Delhi’s Najafgarh area one was sighted in the Tilpath Valley Biodiversity Park Multiple pug marks and sightings have been made at Asola since 2015 with sanctuary officials saying the sightings are becoming more frequent “This could be down to a reduction in human interference and enrichment of the habitat here,” Madan said Delhi’s northern part also recorded a leopard sighting which seemingly entered the capital along the Yamuna floodplains and reached the Yamuna Biodiversity Park in Wazirabad An ongoing five-year-long winter raptor survey at the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary in south Delhi has recorded 21 different raptor species (birds of prey) at the sanctuary 14 of which are schedule-1 species (prohibited to be hunted except under threat to human life or in case of a serious disease) under the Wildlife Protection Act 18 different raptors have been recorded at the sanctuary including the common kestrel – a local migrant (Sourced/Abhey Bhardwaj) The census has been held every winter since 2017 with the 70 surveys held so far recording the presence of the critically endangered red-headed vulture (Sarcogyps calvus) A near threatened pallid harrier (Circus macrourus) was also recorded for the first time in November 2017 and more recently The survey is being carried out by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) in collaboration with the state forest and wildlife department in order to ascertain the raptor population in the area and gauge the impact of rejuvenation efforts inside the sanctuary on fauna Noting that 28 raptor species have been historically recorded at the sanctuary said the winter survey has recorded 21 of these species in the last five years 14 species are currently under Schedule-1 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act one is a vagrant and the status for four is difficult to define,” said Madan adding that habitat improvement along with soil and water conservation schemes being carried out with the forest department had led to a stable prey population for the raptors He said the shikra (Accipiter badius) count has almost doubling in the last few years including the common kestrel – a local migrant; the black-shouldered kite and the white-eyed buzzard – both resident birds; and the booted eagle – a winter migrant Among the rare species recorded at the sanctuary are -- the peregrine falcon (falco peregrinus) during a common bird monitoring programme in September 2021; the black eagle a rare species first sighted in 2018 and again in December 2021 and regularly seen till February 2022; a flock of Egyptian vultures along with its migratory subspecies seen near the Asola lake in January 2022; and the northern goshawk in February 2022 Madan said this is the first ever photographic record of the northern goshawk “Goshawks are the bigger versions of the resident shikra or migratory Eurasian sparrowhawk so possibly this species could be much more common than earlier believed With a group of 40 enthusiasts looking specifically for raptors on the day it became easier to spot and photograph this cryptic species,” he said Sanctuary officials said the Asola lake is also turning into an important stopover for migratory raptors such as the steppe eagle with a flock of 12 recorded in November last year raptors often concentrate in specific prey-rich locations during winter returning each year if proven to be beneficial These wintering habitats are therefore crucial to raptor population health and require protection and management,” said Geeta Yadav (naturalist) at BNHS “Connecting volunteers with wildlife programmes like these help in cultivating ownership for green areas in our city and raising the level of awareness around these majestic birds,” she added Environment minister Gopal Rai on Friday opened the Neeli Jheel ecotourism site in the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary to the public Delhi environment and forest minister Gopal Rai inaugurated the eco tourism facilities at Neeli Jheel Asola-Bhati Wildlife Sanctuary in New Delhi (HT Photo) The 40-hectare site will feature artificial waterfalls and golf carts and electric cycles will be added soon Rai said that the government is focused on making Delhi an eco-friendly tourism site “Delhiites can come with families and enjoy the natural beauty of this place Neeli Jheel has been developed as an eco-tourism site Eco-friendly material has been used in all the facilities All the four artificial waterfalls are operated by solar systems Orders have also been issued to the officers of the department to make arrangements for golf carts and electric cycles for tourists and to construct an eco-friendly cafeteria near Neeli Jheel,” the environment minister said A government official said that signages have been set up across the area to inform visitors about the trees and their significance Constructions near Neeli Jheel have used natural materials like wood and the department has developed four solar-powered artificial waterfalls there These waterfalls are unique in that the water cascades down 100 feet to the lake below Keeping in mind the safety of the tourists a place has been designated around the Neeli Jheel for spectators and a selfie point developed near the artificial waterfall,” the official added The official said the waterfalls were created by pumping up the water from the Neeli Jheel to 100 feet high rocky ledges from where the water plunges back into the lake The water from the Jheel is pumped upwards using a 15 HP pump that is operated by a noiseless generator on solar power The environment minister said orders have been issued to arrange golf carts and electric cycles for the tourists “Tourists are welcome to arrive in their own vehicles up until this arrangement is completed Visitors can purchase tickets at the Neeli Jheel Eco Tourism Site entrance gates tickets will also be made available online,” Rai said The facility can be accessed from Tughlakabad Conservator of Forests office gate number 10 via Chhatarpur and the gate number 7 near Guruji temple complex Home » General » Environment » Rescued nilgai recuperating at Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary Dec 27 (SocialNews.XYZ) An injured nilgai (a type of antelope) that was rescued from near the premises of the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) in the national capital's Mandawali area is currently being treated at the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary The nilgai with an injured leg was spotted by a passer-by outside the DJB premises on Sunday evening He immediately informed the Delhi Forest Department The Forest Department in turn contacted Wildlife SOS for reinforcements to conduct the rescue operation A joint operation conducted by officials of the Forest Department and Wildlife SOS later successfully rescued the animal using rescue equipment and safety nets "Agitated by its injury and the crowd that had gathered the nilgai began scurrying across the busy road It took the rescuers almost an hour to safely transport the distressed antelope to the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary where it is currently receiving medical care," a statement from Wildlife SOS said on Monday said: "The nilgai or blue bull is the largest Asian antelope and this species is endemic to the Indian subcontinent rescue operations involving Nilgais need to be carried out with utmost caution Wildlife SOS was able to assist the Forest Department with timely intervention and ensure the safety of this injured Nilgai." Deputy Director-Special Projects for Wildlife SOS said: "It took us almost an hour to carry out the rescue as we did not want to ambush the distressed animal Nilgais straying into human dominated areas in Delhi NCR is not uncommon these days We are grateful to the public for being sensitive to the plight of the injured animal." Wildlife SOS is a non-profit charity established in 1998 with the primary objective of rescuing and rehabilitating wildlife in distress across India It also runs wildlife and nature protection projects to promote conservation combat poaching and illegal trade of wild animals the Forest Department had evacuated a nilgai from the park near Purana Qila and sent it to the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary the nilgai had strayed into the urban areas and was found roaming around that park for almost a month before it was picked up He is the editor of SocialNews.XYZ and President of AGK Fire Inc developing mobile applications and publishing news articles on current events from various authenticated news sources When it comes to writing he likes to write about current world politics and Indian Movies His future plans include developing SocialNews.XYZ into a News website that has no bias or judgment towards any With a striped hyena being caught on camera traps earlier this month at the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary along with multiple sightings of three leopards the natural park not only has top predators and scavengers largely fulfilling a complete foodchain and ecosystem Three leopards have been captured on camera traps at the Asola Bhatti wildlife sanctuary will be to initiate measures at the 6,874-acre sanctuary to ensure that the wildlife is protected and sustained Senior officials of Delhi’s forest department said ever since the imposition of the first Covid-19 lockdown last year several new species of animals and birds were spotted at the Asola sanctuary An ongoing census at the sanctuary to count all mammals has not only revealed the presence of at least three leopards but also captured a striped hyena roaming the sanctuary The census has recorded a total of 17 different mammal species so far said ever since the count began in March 2021 initial trends indicate a definite increase in the population of mongoose golden jackal and civet cat in the sanctuary The census is expected to be completed by 2023 “There are more than two leopards at least with camera traps capturing different leopard images evidence of which was last seen only in 2018 inside the sanctuary we can say there is an increase in the mongoose adding 22 camera traps were being used for the census the next step in preserving the rich diversity and prey base for different animals is to carry out enrichment plantation and canopy plugs for herbivores while bio-dams and check-dams at regular gaps to ensure there is an adequate water supply “If there are enough watering holes and sufficient food we can then expect more animals to thrive in the existing area and more breeding will also take place growing native trees and shrubs which will provide an adequate ecosystem to these herbivores,” he said Among the other animals sighted as part of the census include jungle cats “The signs of increased sightings of animal especially a top predator such as the leopard are a promising sign for the ecology of a region This is an indicator that the ecosystem is complete and fully functional Once we have completed our wildlife census we will be able to give a better picture of where we stand,” said a senior forest official the official also attributed this increased number in wildlife to several of the department’s conservation programmes to improve the availability of water improve flora in the area and also limiting trespassing by locals into the forest land warn that government should not be content with mere sightings of newer species in the sanctuary and added that the real test will be to sustain these animals in an urban setup like Delhi “There is ample proof to suggest that high movement of people and vehicles in a forest impacts the movement and foraging patterns of animals they tend to avoid their regular routes and eventually move away from the area altogether,” said Kartick Satyanarayan co-founder and CEO of wildlife protection NGO He said the forest department should make concerted attempts to limit the movement of people from neighbouring localities a male leopard was spotted in the Yamuna Biodiversity Park in north Delhi who was said to have been staying in the park for days before the authorities decided to move it to the Rajaji National Park for the safety of the people living around the area scientist in-charge at the Yamuna Biodiversity Park says proper monitoring of the sanctuary and getting skilled forest teams will help the city maintain such green spaces for wildlife without causing any safety issues for either the animals or the residents of the area “When we spotted the leopard at the Yamuna Biodiversity Park our foremost focus was to ensure that there was round the clock monitoring of the animal Leopards tend to exist close to human habitation and survive on whatever is available We need proper monitoring mechanisms and skilled teams in these parks,” he said from the Centre for Environmental Management of Degraded Ecosystems said the Nairobi National Park is a perfect example of how humans and wildlife can coexist peacefully if authorities take proper measures “The Nairobi National Park is located very close to their airport you can see vehicles passing close to the sanctuary What works there is that they have built 12-foot tall boundary walls that keep the animals protected and also prevents humans from getting in Such innovative measures need to be adopted,” Babu said A senior official of the wildlife division of the union environment ministry said several aspects need to be taken into account while maintaining a wildlife sanctuary in a city The primary consideration is the safety of humans residing around these areas where locals are fairly aware and used to encounters with wild animals we find a great discord and instances of deaths of animals and humans There is no doubt that we can develop a successful sanctuary for animals in Delhi but before that we need to develop safe wildlife corridors for the movement of animals buffer zones around the sanctuary where even if the animal moves out of the main forest they do not come into direct contact with humans A strong anti-poaching policy is also important,” the official said More than 60 check dams built by the Delhi forest department along the natural rain-fed streams at the Asola wildlife sanctuary also called one of the green lungs of the capital over the past year have helped improve the ecology in the area A view of a check dam at Asola Wildlife Sanctuary in New Delhi.(Sanjeev Verma/HT PHOTO) Besides retaining rain water and preventing soil run-off The seeds in the soil that would otherwise flow out of the forest with the rain water These seeds will then be collected and sowed by a process called dibbling --- making shallow holes for the seeds to grow into plants which experts believe is a more ecologically sound method of growing trees as it allows natural regeneration of the forest Check dams are small dams that are built across a water channel or a drainage ditch (depression) to counteract erosion by reducing the velocity of the flow of water It prevents the soil from eroding during rains and allows water to be retained in the form of small pools or waterholes where wild animals can drink and bathe the top soil layer along with its nutrients was lost every year during monsoon they did not help retain water along all the seasonal streams the rain water is being held within the dams which is then being used for ecological purposes an ecologist and centre manager of the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) Conservation Education Centre at the Asola sanctuary said this is the first monsoon after these small dams were introduced and its effects arereflected in terms of regeneration of the forest “So far the surface run-off during the monsoon would take away all the seeds and nutrients along the top soil now with the dams holding the water and soil The seeds fall into the holes and grow over time This is the most natural way of functioning for a forest,” said Madan He added that the streams are along critical wildlife habitats and migration routes thus helping the birds and animals to find enough water within their habitat there is the breeding ground for the painted sandgrouse a ground-dwelling bird that is considered fairly uncommon “It is crucial for wildlife habitats to have water in the vicinity Though it will take some years for these dams to hold water all the year around having them in place is a step in the right direction the dams are of immense help in retaining soil and moisture at a place like Asola which has steep slopes where the water and the silt run down fast,” he said the dam sites are being surveyed regularly to assess their impact “These dams are built along eight seasonal streams ranging from 6km to 11km With two good spells of rainfall received so far this month these have been able to retain rain water to a large extent and prevent soil erosion,” said Amit Anand The ongoing study by forest officials also shows an increase in the capacity of groundwater recharge one of the streams that flowed like a waterfall outside the forest “Now only a little water flows out while most of it is retained and seeps into the ground allowing the aquifers to recharge This will help keep the soil moist during the dry months,” said Madan professor emeritus and head of the Centre for Environmental Management of Degraded Ecosystems (CEMDE) at Delhi University said check dams play an important role in retaining moisture and seeds for plant growth Some of these dams made of grass also serve as grassland habitats enriching the overall biodiversity of a forest “These dams are a traditional method of rain water harvesting in larger landscapes such as forests which have bigger surface drainage channels They help in increasing the capacity of groundwater recharge and allowing the water table to rise even in the nearby areas serve as a water resource even during the dry season,” said Babu constant diameters: this is the trio that distinguishes the “classic” frame far from the bold shapes of most current racing bicycles This is the path that Sarto has followed with its Asola Plus, the company's best seller, which perhaps best combines tailoring skills with the renowned expertise of this historic Venetian brand. This process allows for weight savings compared to mold lamination which is used to make other models in the company range an Asola frame weighs about 100 grams less than a Raso frame which is an equally renowned model in the collection but made with the wrapping of portions of the frame produced from a mold This is also out of line: as it was assembled at the Italian Bike Festival 2023 (Dura-Ace groupset with Clavicola carbon crankset and Lightweight Obermayer Evo wheels) the indicative price is 20.000 euros Also noteworthy is the overall weight of this setup: just 6.450 grams Further information: Tailor Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" © Cyclinside - all rights reserved - Reproduction of photographs and texts for more than 10 percent is prohibited It is mandatory to indicate the link to the page © Cyclinside - all rights reserved - Reproduction of photographs and texts for more than 10 percent is prohibited It is mandatory to indicate the link to the page.