Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary

About Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary:

• It lies in southern Delhi and the northern parts of Faridabad and Gurugram districts of Haryana state.
• It is located on the southern ridge of Delhi, and it is covered with the northern terminal of the Aravalli Hill Range, which is one of the oldest mountain ranges.
• It is also part of the Sariska-Delhi Wildlife Corridor, which runs from the Sariska Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan to Delhi Ridge.
• It covers an area of 32.71 sq.km.
• Vegetation:
  • As per Champion & Seth (1968), the vegetation falls under the Northern Tropical Thorn Forests type.
  • The native plants exhibit xerophytic adaptations such as thorny appendages, wax-coated, succulent, and tomentose leaves. 
• Flora: Consists of Prosopis juliflora as the dominant exotic species and Diospyros montana as the dominant native species in the sanctuary.
• Fauna: Golden Jackals, Striped-Hyenas, Indian crested-Porcupines, Civets, Jungle Cats, Snakes, Monitor Lizards, Mongoose, etc.

Q1: What are xerophytes?

Xerophytes are plants adapted to survive in environments with very limited water, such as deserts or rocky terrains. They have evolved specialized structures and mechanisms to conserve water, minimize water loss, and efficiently collect moisture. 

News: High Court tells authorities to shift Delhi’s monkeys to Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary