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    Kalesar National Park

    kalesar forest
    Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary & Kalesar National Park

    1. Kalesar National Park & Wildlife Sanctuary are situated at the foothills of Shiwalik Ranges. It is located between 30° 20’ to 30° 28′ north latitude & 77° 26° to 77° 36 east longitude. Administratively it falls in Yamuna Nagar district of Haryana and shares boundary with three states ie. Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand & U.P.. Yamuna river forms the eastern boundary with Uttar Pradesh. The main Shivalik ridge separates states of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh & Uttarakhand in the north. Kalesar National Park & Wildlife Sanctuary have been named after the Kaleshwar (Shiva) temple located in section-4 area. The whole area is rich in bio-diversity having dense Sal & Khair forest & patches of grasslands which supports an amazing variety of plants and animal species.
    2. The Kalesar tract was originally the joint property of the Rani of Bilaspsur and the Pathans of Khizrabad (Now Partap Nagar). When the Rani died in 1820, the Government became half proprietor of the profile. This whole area was demarcated in 1863 and an area of 20664 acres was allotted to village Kalesar. The remaining area of 11889 acres was allotted to the Forest Department and it was entered as a forest land in revenue record.
    3. The first regular working plan of this forest was prepared in 1892 from a note written in 1886 by Mr. W.E.D. Arcy the then Deputy Conservator of Forests in Punjab state. In this working plan, the forest was divided into two sections namely (i) Sal portion, comprising 2,639 acres situated in the Sukh Rau Valley and (ii) the remaining forests comprising 8,931 acres with a little sal.
    4. Kalesar National Park: Earlier an area of 11570 Acres was declared as Reserved Forest vide Haryana Govt. notification No. S.O.138/C.A.16/27/S.20/74 Dt. 23.8.1974 and this Reserve Forest was named as R.I.J Kalesar. Later on whole area of 11570 acres of Kalesar Reserve Forest was declared as Wild Life Sanctuary vide Haryana Govt. Notification No.S.O.157/C.A.53 1972/S.26A/92 Dt.18.12.1992. Recently Vide Govt.Notification No. S.O.144/C.A.53/1972/S.35/2003 Dt. 8.12.2003, the whole area of this Wildlife Sanctuary was declared as National Park.
    5. Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary: Vide Haryana government notification No SO.161/C.A.53/ 1972/S26A/92 dated 18 December, 1992 surrounding hilly forest of Kalesar National Park which spread over an area of 13209 acres was declared as Wildlife Sanctuary. Later on vide Haryana Government notification dated 13 Jan 2000 an area of 222.65 Acres was also notified to be a part of the Kalesar Wild Life Sanctuary. Resultantly total area of Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary is 13431.65 Acres.
    6. Flora and Fauna: Main tree species found in National Park and Wild Life Sanctuary area are Sal, Khair, Shisham, Sain, Jhingan, Chhal, etc. The National Park nurtures wide range of wild life like Leopard, Sambhar, Chittal, Barking deer, Neelgai, Wildbore, Junglefowl, Porcupine, Monkey, Elephant, etc.
    7. Yamuna Nagar district is endowed with 22915.19 hectares of recorded forest area which is about 12.4 percent of the total geographical area of the district. This forest area sprawls on the North along the Shiwalik foothills forming Kalesar National Park and Wild Life Sanctuary.
    8. Kalesar National Park & Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary has immense significance in terms of biodiversity & ecological stability in this part of the country. In terms of biodiversity it is store house of numerous medicinal plants. It houses many threatened species of animals like Leopard, Goral, Barking deer, Python, King Cobra, Monitor lizard etc. Occasionally tigers & elephants visit Kalesar National Park and sanctuary from nearby Rajaji National Park. If habitat is improved, then tigers & elephants may stay throughout the year. So this National Park & sanctuary is very important from the conservation point of view of highly threatened animal species like tiger & elephant. This habitat can provide alternate home for these two type of animals coming from Rajaji national park.
    9. The Shiwaliks formed by debris brought from the older Himalayan ranges are composed of sedimentary rocks such as sandstone, clay & conglomerates & is therefore highly fragile system. Extensive soil erosion takes place due to rapid run off during heavy rains. Gully formation & landslides are common. The valley bottoms & nallahs are mostly strewn with boulders & pebbles. During monsoon torrents carry boulders & muddy water & cause flash floods in the plains. So this protected area plays vital role in preventing the kind of flash floods & helps in maintaining ecological stability.
    10. Natural sal forest of the National Park and sanctuary is the western limit of naturally occuring sal forests in the country. In Haryana, it is the only National Park and sanctuary having good natural forests supporting such a large bio-diversity & having potential to accommodate tiger and elephant. So, it has got a special significance in terms of conservation, education, tourism and research opportunities/areas.
    11. Corresponding to the considerable diversity of habitat types, the wild animals of Kalesar protected area show a good variety of species, although numbers are rather low at present. With the full protection provided by park authorities, the population will increase to the full carrying capacity of the area within few years. Among herbivores Sambhar (Cervus unicolor) is common, especially in the more densely forested areas on gentle slopes. Groups of two or three Sambhars are often seen. Chital is another common herbivore found in open grasses patches & fire lines, Barking deer is found especially in forest areas with good ground cover.
    12. Antelopes are represented by the Nilgai or Blue bull which occurs in the more open areas bordering Yamuna plain & frequently raids on agriculture crops. Wild Boar is also fairly common in the national park & sanctuary & it also raids on crops.
    13. Elephant (Elephus maximums) is a occasional visitor from Rajaji national park & sanctuary. Elephants usually stay at Kalesar PA for few weeks & go back to Rajaji National Park & Sanctuary. If good water holes are made available these may stay for long time.
    14. Among the carnivores in Kalesar P.A. Leopard (Panther) takes pride place. There are about 10-12 leopards in the entire protected area.
    15. The tiger (Panthera tigris) is also an additional visitor from Rajaji National Park & Sanctuary. It stays for few days & goes back. If there is an increase in prey base it can permanently stay in the park & sanctuary.
    16. The development work being done by the wildlife wing of Haryana state for the protection and conservation of wildlife has increased the number of wildlife and activities like illegal hunting etc. have been completely stopped. The department has been trying for a long time for the protection and conservation of wildlife, which can be gauged from the increase in the number of wildlife. The development work done for wildlife in Kalesar National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary of Yamunanagar district falling in Panchkula division of Haryana state has provided them a natural habitat to live safely in the forest and due to which elephants are now being seen regularly, which keep coming to Kalesar National Park and Sher Jung National Park from Rajaji National Park bordering Haryana state through Yamunanagar corridor and the activity of a herd of 8 to 10 elephants has been seen in the months of April, October and February.
    17. This herd of elephants also went back to the national park via Guga on 26.04.2025. Apart from this, 3 male elephants reside permanently in Kalesar National Park. The presence of elephants in the national park is evident from time to time from their feces, broken trees and their footprints and from time to time their sightings, which is a great achievement for the wildlife department of Haryana state. Tigers are also regularly seen roaming in Haryana state from Sher Jung National Park (Simbalwara) of Himachal state bordering Haryana state, which is a great achievement for the Wildlife Department of Haryana state and now the Wildlife Department is making a lot of efforts in this direction so that the species of wildlife not found in Haryana state, which are found in the adjoining forests, turn towards this so that the continuous activities of these wild animals can be seen in Kalesar National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary of Panchkula division.

    FUTURE WILDLIFE HABITAT MANAGEMENT PLAN

    Kalesar forest is a famous and very large forest. In which no plantation work has been done except some maintenance work in the last 3 years and during last financial year 2024-25 some SMC work (Construction of wall to minimise the soil erosion and create wire work is to be done mainly) are to be done in Kalesar National Park & Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary area under wildlife habitat management and for water management for wildlife and one tubewell is also installed under CAMPA Scheme. The future work to be proposed as under during the current year:

    • Bamboo Plantation in Kalesar National Park & Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary area and River Bank area.
    • Creating of Grass Land work in Kalesar National Park & Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary.
    • Watch Towers for better Vigilance of Wild Animals and Protection of fire in fire season.
    • Clearing of fireline in Kalesar National Park & Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary for Protection of fire in fire season.
    • Habitat improvement planting kanna grass at Kalesar National Park & Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary for Habitat Improvement.
    • Unwanted weeds are being removed in Kalesar National Park and Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary to plant new plantations.
    • Preparation of Management Plan of Kalesar National Park & Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary and Zonal Master Plan of the Eco-Sensitive Zone around Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary, Yamunanagar, and Plan of Tiger & Elephant Corridor in Kalesar National Park, Yamunanagar, Haryana.
    • Construction of Three entrance gates (One at entry point of Kalesar National Park, Second at entrance in Wildlife Campus and Third at entrance in Kalesar National Park area for Safari).
    • Publicity work for wildlife awareness and fixing of pillars and boards around the Eco Sensitive Zone area of Kalesar National Park as recommended by CEC.
    • Maintenance of inspection path 4 foot boundary line at KNP.
    • Construction of Interpretation Centre including paintings, sculpture etc. in Kalesar National Park.
    • Procurement of camera trap fixing in Kalesar National Park, Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary area.