Sultanpur
Bird Sanctuary, founded by Dr. Salim Ali is situated 16 km from Gurgaon
district of Haryana. 50 km from Delhi on the Gurgaon - Farukh Nagar
Road, it is a small bird sanctuary. Both its rustic natural surroundings and
the varieties of birds make it an ideal destination for the nature and bird
lovers. The park covering an area
of 143sq.km. has tropical and dry deciduous forests consisting of babul savannah
grasses, acacia, jamun, banyans etc.
The Park was originally an area of mostly marshy
land where water accumulates during rains and dries out in summer. In
time the marshy land coupled with number of organisms like crustaceans,
fish and insects started to attract number of birds includes migratory
birds. |
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The potential of Sultanpur was first recognised
by the world famous ornithologist, Mr. Peter Jackson and the area was
landscaped and suitable vegetation planted to attract more birds. It
was declared a Bird Sanctuary in 1971 and was upgraded to the status of
National Park in 1991 by Haryana Government.
Flora
The park has tropical and dry
deciduous forests, which consist of Babul, Savannah grasses, Acacia, Jamun and
Banyan trees.
Fauna
The park is well known for migratory and indigenous birds.
Almost 250 species of resident and migratory birds have been recorded in
Sultanpur Park. Migratory geese
from Europe and Siberian cranes spend the winter in Sultanpur and there are
also the Demoiselle cranes, Ruddy shelducks, Pelicans, Flamingoes,
Bar-headed
geese, Spotted sandpiper, Darters, Grey lags, Gadwalls, Mallards, Pochards,
Shovellers and Teals. Local species include plovers, Red-wattled lapwings,
Herons, Cormorants, Egrets, White ibises, Spoonbills and Painted storks. The
Sultanpur lake around which the park is situated provides a haven for the
huge variety of birds and some reptiles. |