Ishwar Prakash

Abstract

The paper deals with the wildlife abundance as it was in the beginning of the present century. The Thar desert has already lost the lion, cheetah, caracal, wolf and wild boar. The population of florican, houbara, great Indian bustard, desert cat, desert fox, jackals, gazelle, black buck has drastically diminished. The causative factors of vanishing wildlife have been discussed. Irrigation through the water brought through the Indira Gandhi Canal is a mighty ecological event which is transforming vast desert grasslands into extensive crop fields. The typical xeric elements are being replaced by mesic species. Several measures for the conservation of biodiversity in the IG Canal region have been proposed which should be adopted without loss of time.

Full Text

     

Ishwar Prakash

Abstract

Black buck, gazelle, panther, wild boar were in great numbers in the desert region in the early thirties of this century. Due to abolition of the Princely states, wild life has suffered great extermination. The Indian Wild Life Board and the Forest Department of Rajasthan have plans to open some Zoological parks and Sanctuaries in Ghana, Bharatpur; Siraska, Alwar, Satkari, Dholpur, Dara, Kota and Jaisamand, Udaipur. But no attention is being paid to Western Rajasthan which has certain important wild animals. Suggestions have been made to declare three regions as reserve areas. The paper also lists some animals as have vanished from this region. It also includes reasons for their mass destruction.

Full Text

     

Ishwar Prakash

Abstract

The paper embodies the observations on toxicity, relative acceptability and killing efficiency of four poisons and four proprietary rodenticides for the Indian desert gerbille, Meriones hurrianae. These are given as under:- 1. Racumin is the most toxic for the desert gerbilles. Dethmor and Ratafin, the two other anti-coagulants are also highly toxic but rodeth has low toxicity for these rodents. Among other poisons, Thallium sulphate and Zinc pbosphide are very toxic whereas Arsenious oxide and Barium carbonate have comparatively low toxicity. 2. Zinc phosphide, being quick acting, is recommended for field operations at 2% concentration with wheat flour. 3. Ratafin is most acceptable whereas racumin is consumed least when given to them, mixed with wheat flour. 4. There were no well marked symptom of Arsenic and barium poisoning. Heart becomes engorged due to Thallium sulphate poison. Coumarin derivatives caused bleeding from ear, nose, mouth and anus. Gerbils died due to paralysis when Ratafin was administered.

Full Text

     

Ishwar Prakash

Abstract

The important vertebrate pests found in the desert of Rajasthan have been listed and an idea has been given about their relative numbers and geographical distribution. The degree of depradation by these vertebrate pests on the desert vegetation has been discussed. The management practices for some vertebrate pest have been given. A method to control the rodents in the field has been explained.

Full Text

     

Ishwar Prakash , K. G. Purohit , L. R. Kametkar

Abstract

Intake by the three gerbils, Meriones hurrianae Jerdon, Tatera indica indica Hardwicke, and Gerbillus gleadowI Murray, of seeds of varioua grass , shrub and tree species, which are of importance as fodder and are used in afforestation and land dune fixation work, was found out and their palatability index has been worked out.Seeds of Cenchrus ciliaris, Eragrostis ciliaris and Erianthus munja are lowly preferred among grasses and those of Acacia species, Azadirachta indica, and Aerva tomentosa among tree and shrub species. If these species of plants are more commonly used for soil conservation work, the damage to seeds by gerbils will be comparatively less than that to other species seeds of which are preferred by the rodents. The consumption of seeds with pulp of Zizyphus nummularia was maximum and they can be used as medium for poison-baiting these rodents.

Full Text