Located 180 kms from Delhi and nestling in the cradle of the Aravallis near Alwar, Sariska is the country’s eleventh tiger reserve under Project Tiger. Declared a Reserve Forest in 1955, and a sanctuary in 1958, it is an ideal leopard country, rich in prey species. Neelgai, sambar, cheetal, langur, porcupine and rabbit roam in abundance, while hyena, jackal, wild boar and a variety of birds including migratory ones have made Sariska a tourist’s delight. Endangered species such as the wild dog, not sighted since 1996, have reappeared there. Sariska is also home to the elusive caracal.

    Most of this dry, deciduous forest is covered with date palms and leafless dhok trees for most of the year. Arjun (Terminalia arjuna), Gugal (Commiphora wighitii), Kadya (Sterculia urens), Anwala (Emblica officinalis), and Bahera ( Terminalia bellerica) are among the botanical species found in the region.. Rocky areas support Sadar (Boswellia serreta) and Jhingan (Lannea coromandelica) while Khair (Acacia catechu) and bamboo clumps are spread over the valleys. It is said that dhok turns green simply by hearing thunder! Come monsoon and the entire sanctuary - 497 sq kms of core zone and 369 sq kms of buffer zone - turns a resplendent green. Peacock calls are common here. This bird adds colour to the jungle along with the tesu or flame of the forest whose scattered red flowers lie like a carpet on the jungle floor.This is a vast wilderness pulsating with a rich and varied wildlife.

    Sariska’s core area is divided into three core zones.For administrative purposes, the entire park is divided into four ranges - Sariska 205 sq kms, Tehla 341 sq kms, Akbarpur 219 sq kms, and Talvriksh 101 sq kms - divided into 75 beats.

    The magnitude of water scarcity has been considerably reduced there through artificial waterbodies and anicuts fed by underground pipes all across the ranges. These are also frequented by cattle, posing a serious problem for wildlife, for there are 26 villages within the park.The primary notification to declare a part of the core as a National Park was issued in 1982. The final notification is pending, in view of the need to relocate these villages out of the park’s precincts. Field director Tejbir Singh says, "All procedures of the Wildlife Protection Act (1972) are complete, except for the relocation of the villages." And this is what has been a stumbling block in acquiring National Park status for Sariska.In an action plan submitted to the government, four villages from an initial 11 have been shortlisted for relocation at a cost of Rs 4.29 crore.This means resettling 395 hectacres or 1300 villagers and 20,000 livestock.The Forest Department has submitted a plan according to which a two- acre plot will be given to each adult male along with construction costs for a house on the periphery of the reserve forest.

    The four villages include Kankwari, Kraksar, Umri and Baghani. In Kankwari Valley, — its lake fed by a natural spring — stands Kankwari Fort. Lending majesty to an arid scrubland, this was where the Mughal king Aurangzeb imprisoned his brother, Dara Shikoh, for several years before beheading him at the Gwalior Fort. Although there is water there, overgrazing of cattle on a finite growth of grass has converted vast areas of land into weed- ridden spaces, covered mostly with Adusa. Moreover sheep and goats are a bigger nuisance since they uproot the rootstock as well, leaving no chance for new grass to sprout again.

    The restarting of mining activity hangs like a Damocle’s sword over Sariska. With 250 dolomite mines in the periphery area and several within the core area, today it is sheer good luck that mining has been effectively stopped.Forest Officer Amar Singh explains,"Although a court directive did put an end to mining, the powerful business lobby in 1997 twisted the verdict in its favour by which mining was permitted in some areas on the plea that these were not within the national park zone." Meanwhile, huge craters of marble-bearing slabs, with mining equipment lying idle close by are an eye-sore and a reminder that mining could restart anytime.

    Human encroachment on park lands has always been a disturbance to wildlife and when the cause is a religious one, stopping entry into the park is not possible. A temple within the park’s core area attracts pilgrims, particularly on Tuesdays and Saturdays, causing disturbance to wildlife. They come in groups by vehicle or on foot, and are never refused entry. Another problem is the state highway which crosses the sanctuary. Work has already started to reroute this highway number 13 from Alwar to Jaipur. Running 30 kms through the reserve, road accidents have claimed a cheetal, a tiger and three leopards in the recent past. By the alternative road running 14 kms from Jaipur, and 6 kms from Sariska, 12 kms of forest path will be protected from road traffic. It is slated to be ready by October end this year.

    Sariska, earns a tourism revenue of Rs 40 lakh. The government’s allocation for the park is Rs 2 crore annually which includes salaries for 275 field staff.

    Though a well-managed park, the future of Sariska hangs in the balance. For its future depends on the awareness and action to maximise wildlife in a setting where nature is in harmony with wildlife, where there is water and where an enhanced tiger and leopard population can roam a much bigger wilderness.