WWF-MSO

A nature camp was organised to the various sanctuaries and a national park of Jammu & Kashmir by WWF-India , Maharashtra State Office in the month of May, 2013. Visited Mansar, Nandini, Jasrota and Manda Wildlife Sanctuaries in Jammu and Dachigam National Park in Kashmir.

Lake Mansar Pic by Shreya

Surinsar Mansar Wildlife Sanctuary derives its name from the two lakes, located on each corner of the sanctuary.

Nandini Wildlife Sanctuary is characterized by stunning locale and varied topography. The sanctuary derives its name from Nandini village. Though the Sanctuary has highway on both the sides, inside its very quiet and still holds a good amount of biodiversity.

Jasrota WLS Photo : Rupali Gurav

Jasrota wildlife sanctuary is named after beautiful Jasrota fort. This fort is situated on the banks of river Ujjh, around 60 km from Jammu. The curry leaf plants were in plenty which attract lots of butterflies. They were fluttering around us while exploring in the sanctuary.

Manda has unique assemblage of dry deciduous trees and shrubs as well as subtropical animals to attract nature lovers. It is the only green lung located near Jammu city overlooking river Tawi as an ideal locale for studying and enjoying nature.

All the above mentioned sanctuaries are easily approachable from Jammu and should be visited by more number of students and researchers.

Biodiversity of Dachigam NP Pic by Rupali Gurav

Dachigam National Park is truely a paradise of Kashmir with a pristine forest. The way in which the forest department is controling the number of visitors is truely admirable.

We really appreciate the efforts of entire forest department, Jammu & Kashmir and thankful to them for helping us out in making this camp a success.

Dal Lake,Kashmir Pic by Rupali Gurav

Fungi Pic by Gauri Gurav

Our group at Dachigam with Mr. Nazir Malik Pic by Rupali Gurav

Some of the sightings are -

Magnolia Pic by Shreya Bhanap

A. Flora :

1. Vad/Banyan Tree (Ficus benghalensis)

2. Payar/Indian rock fig (Ficus arnottiana)

3. Palas/Flame of the forest (Butea monosperma)

4. Suru/Horsetail (Casuarina equistifolia)

5. Amba/Mango tree (Mangifera india)

6. Karanj/Pongam oil tree (Pongamia pinnata)

7. Katesavar/Red silk cotton tree (Bombax ceiba)

8. Gulvel/Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia)

Acer spp. Pic by Gauri Gurav

9. Besharam/Bush morning glory (Ipomoea carnea)

10. Pandhara sonchafa/White michelia (Michelia alba)

11. Water hyacinth (Eichornia crassipes)

13. Monkey Puzzle Tree (Araucaria araucana)

14. Sausage tree (Kigelia pinnata)

15. Chamel/Maloo creeper (Bauhinia vahlii)

16. Phulzadu/ Tiger Grass (Thysanolaena maxima)

17. Kusum/Ceylon oak (Schleichera oleosa)

18. Sag/Teak (Tectona grandis)

19.Gulab/Himalyan musk rose (Rosa brunonii)

20. Bahava/ Indian Laburnum (Cassia fistula)

21. Aaghada/Prickly chaff flower (Achyranthes aspera)

22. Umber/Country fig tree (Ficus glomerata)

23. Chillanthus fern

24. Lichen Spp.

25. Anjeer/Common fig (Ficus carica)

26. Tuti/Mulbery (Morus alba)

27.Nil mohar/Blue Jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia)

28. Ceylon sago palm (Cycas circinalis)

Fox tail lily Pic by Nazir Malik

29 Devdar/Chir pine (Pinus roxburghii)

30. Himalayan Pine(Pinus wallichiana)

31. Bamboo/Indian thorny Bamboo (Bambusa bambos)

32. Bael/Wood apple (Aegle marmelos)

33.Shatavari/ Wild asparagus (Asparagus racemosus)

34.Goat weed (Ageratum conyzoides)

35. Kala umber/Hairy fig (Ficus hispida)

36.Kadipatta/Curry leaves (Murraya Koenigii)

37. Chanda/(Macaranga peltata)

38. Dhayati/Fire flame bush (Woodfordia fruticosa)

39. Muchkund/Maple leaved bayur tree (Pterospermum acerifolium)

40.Sonchapha/Joy perfume tree (Michelia champaca)

41. Ghaneri/Red sage (Lantana camara)

42. Vaivarna/Garlic pear tree(Cratavea tapia)

43. Jambhul/Java plum/Black plum (Syzygium cumini)

44. Shendri/ Kamala tree (Mallotus philippensis)

45.Weeping Bottle brush (Callistemon viminalis)

46. Indian Gooseberry/ Avla (Phyllanthus emblica)

47. Night Jasmine (Nyctanthes arbor-tristis)

Clematis spp. Pic by Gauri Gurav

48.Wild Karwand (Carissa spinarum)

49.Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora)

50. Bherali mad/Fish tail palm (Caryota urens)

51.Indian rosewood (Dalbergia sissoo)

52.Moi,Shemat/Indian Ash tree (Lannea coromandelica)

53.Pimpal/Sacred fig tree (Ficus religiosa)

54. Shirish/Siris tree (Albizzia lebbeck)

55.Bakan nimb/Persian lilac(Melia azedarach)

56. Khair/Catechu tree (Acacia catechu)

57. Shindi/Indian date palm (Phoenix sylvestris)

Dandelion Pic by Gauri Gurav

58. Vavla/Indian Elm (Holoptelia integrifolia)

59. Maiden hair fern (Adiantum Spp.)

60. Asplenium Spp.

61.Aspedium Spp.

62. Bor/Indian jujube (Ziziphus jujube)

63. Buddha coconut (Pterygota alata)

64. Silver Oak (Grevillea robusta)

65. Indian Gooseberry/ Avla (Phyllanthus emblica)

66. Amritsar Gum/Pharlai (Acacia modesta)

67. Hedysarum cachemirianum

68. Salvia Spp.

Chamel flowering Pic by Shreya Bhanap

69. Clematis Spp.

70. Populus Spp.

71. Maharukh/Indian tree of heaven (Ailanthus excelsa)

72. Peach (Prunus persica)

73. Indian barberry (Berberies lycium)

74. Wax tree (Rhus succedanea)

75. Alu Bukhara/Wild plum (Prunus americana)

76.Akrod/Walnut (Juglans regia)

77. Wild apple (Pyrus malus)

78. Panicum crus-galli

79.Tapering leaf maple (Acer acuminatum)

80. Fox-tailed lily (Eremurus himalaicus)

81. Sweet violet (Viola odorata)

82. Indian Horse Chestnut (Aesculus indica)

83. Ophioglossum Spp.

84.Cherry plum (Prunus cerasifera)

85. Nepal yam (Dioscorea deltoidea)

86. Dutch clover (Trifolium repens)

87. White himalayan dandelion (Taraxacum candidatum)

88.Wormwood (Artemisia vestita)
89.Euphorbia piscatoria

Pic by Rupali Gurav

Pic by Gauri Gurav

Common Jay Pic by Shreya Bhanap

B. Fauna

I. Insects

a. butterflies

1. Common emigrant

2. Lemon pansy

3. Lime

4. Tawny coster

5. Green sapphire

6. Sailor

7. Blue tiger

8. Plain tiger

Gull Pic by Shreya Bhanap

9. Striped tiger

10. Grass blue

11. Common gull

12. Common emigrant

13. Common mormon

14. Yellow orange tip

15. Common jay

16. Tailed jay

Dragonfly Pic by Shreya Bhanap

b. Other insects

1. Fruit fly

2. Godzilla ants

3. Digger wasp

4. Picture wing dragon fly

5. Bess beetle

6. Leaf beetle

7. Ladybird beetle

beetle Pic by Rupali Gurav

Social spiders web Pic by Shreya Bhanap

II. Arachnids
1. Tent spider

2. Social spiders

3. Huntsman

4. Spp. from family - Pisauridae

Agama Pic by Rupali Gurav

III. Reptiles

1. Kashmir rock agama

Long tailed minivet Pic by Rupali Gurav

Chestnut eared bunting Pic by Rupali Gurav

IV. Birds

1. Blue rock pigeon
2. Jungle crow

3. House crow

4. Cattle egret

5. Black drongo

6. House sparrow

7. Common myna

8. Pied kingfisher

9. Red jungle fowl

10. Red vented bulbul

11. Spotted dove

Blue throated Barbet Pic by Rupali Gurav

12. Laughing dove

13. Palm swift

14. Indian roller

15. Rufus tree pie

16. Shikra

17. Oriental magpie robin

18. Red wattled lapwing

19. Black winged stilt

20. Black kite

21. Himalayan Bulbul

22. Scaly bellied woodpecker

vulture & crow Pic by Gauri Gurav

23. Ultramarine flycatcher

24. Oriental turtle dove
25. Grey hooded oriole

26. Long tailed minivet

27. Graceful prinia

28. Tickles blue flowerpecker

29. Himalayan bulbul

30. Kashmir flycatcher

31. Laughing thrush

32. Chestnut eared bunting

33. White throated kingfisher

34. Chukar (call)

35. Blue throated barbet

Owlet Pic by E. Thiruvengadam

36. Coppersmith barbet

37. Green bee-eater

38. Rose ringed parakeet

39. Steppe Eagle

40. Common Kestrel

41. Grey heron

42. Pond heron

43. Great tit

44.   Jungle babbler

45.   Purple sun-bird
46.   Little egret

Pic by Rupali Gurav

Eagle Pic by E. Thiruvengadam

Drongo Pic by Mr. E. Thiruvengadam

Sambar deer Pic by Rupali Gurav

V. Mammals
1. Sambar
2. Kashmir red deer (Hungul)

3. Himalayan brown bear

4. Three striped squirrel

5. Rhesus macaque

Kashmir red deer (Hangul) pic by E Thiruvengadam

To know more about our July - December, 2013 camps & trails visit

http://wwfmso.blogspot.in/2013/04/wwf-india-mso-programme-july-december.html

on the way to Kashmir Pic by Rupali Gurav

group outside WWF-India Jammu & Kashmir State Offce

Hangul Pic by Mr. Thiruvengadam

Himalayan Griffin Pic by E. Thiruvengadam

Dal lake pic by Shreya Bhanap

Dear Supporters,

Greetings from WWF-India, Maharashtra State Office

On the occasion of The International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) i.e. 22^nd May, 2013 WWF-India, Maharashtra State Office will be organizing Photography Competition cum Exhibition from 22nd – 31st May, 2013. We are inviting the entries from Nature Photographers (Professional as well as Amateurs) for the same. The Theme – ‘Water Cooperation’ (We are looking for photographs such as fresh & marine water biodiversity, water resources, water reservoirs, use of water in various fields, traditional & innovative water storage systems of India, sharing of waters, water wastage etc.). This is open and free for all.

Rules & Regulations:

1. Photograph Dimensions: 8”x10”; 10” x 12” and 10” x 15”

2. Last date for acceptance of entries is 14^th May before 4.00 pm. (Saturday-Sunday Off)

3. Date of Exhibition - 22^nd – 31^st May, 2013. (Except Saturday-Sunday)

4. Time of exhibition – 10.30 am to 6.00 pm.

5. Venue – WWF-India Maharashtra State Office, C/o Godrej & Boyce Mfg. Co. Ltd., Near Gundecha Gardens (towers), Opp. Shaman, Mumbai: 400012. Tel: 24701361 / 24700030

6. Maximum 5 photographs (prints) to be submitted per participant. Every print should have the name, address, contact number / email id of the contestant.

7. Images from India only should be submitted.

8. Each photograph should be correctly identified (incase of species), have a short but suitable caption and a mention of the place where the photograph was taken and the specification of the camera, film and exposures (if possible).

9. Digitally altered photographs or those shot in captivity, gardens, zoos, aquarium and any other artificial environment (except for man made water reservoirs & storage systems) will not be considered or accepted.

10. PLEASE NOTE the prints will be used by WWF-India, Maharashtra State Office for non-commercial awareness purpose if they are not personally collected within 15 days after the exhibition gets over. WWF –India will not post or courier any photographs. The unclaimed Photographs will be used for noncommercial educational purpose only.

11. The selected photographs will be displayed during the exhibition from 22^nd – 31^st May, 2013.

12. There is no entry fee for the participants, however the decision to display or not to display any particular photograph will strictly remain at the discretion of WWF-India.

13. The photographs should reach to WWF-India, Maharashtra State office on or before 14^th May, 2013. Submissions after that will not be entertained.

Prizes –

1^st Prize – WWF-India Day Pack.

2^nd Prize – WWF-India T-shirt

3^rd Prize – WWF-India Mug

Winners will be announced on 27th May, 2013

For any further enquieries please feel free to call us on 24701361 / 24700030

Regards,

WWF-India, MSO Team