Important Facts For Prelims
Africa’s Boma Technique
- 23 Mar 2022
- 3 min read
Why in News?
Recently, Africa’s Boma technique was undertaken at Keoladeo National Park in Rajasthan’s Bharatpur district.
- It was undertaken for capturing chitals or spotted deer and translocating them to Mukundara Hills Tiger Reserve, so as to improve the prey base.
- The IUCN Red List Status of Chital is Least Concern.
What is Boma capturing Technique?
- The Boma capturing technique is popular in Africa.
- It involves luring animals into an enclosure by chasing them through a funnel-like fencing.
- The funnel tapers into an animal selection-cum-loading chute, supported with grass mats and green net to make it opaque for animals, which are herded into a large vehicle for their transport to another location.
- This old technique was earlier utilised to capture wild elephants for training and service.
- This shifting exercise has been approved by National Tiger Conservation Authority’s (NTCA).
- The translocation of herbivores would reduce preying upon rural cattle, sheep and goats around the tiger reserves.
What are Key Points Related to Keoladeo National Park?
- Keoladeo National Park is formerly known as the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary.
- It is located in the State of Rajasthan.
- It is an UNESCO World Heritage and a Ramsar site.
- Breeding Ground: Different species from far-flung areas of northern hemisphere visit the Sanctuary for breeding. The Siberian crane is one of the rare species that can be spotted here.
- Fauna: Animals such as Jackals, Sambar, Nilgai, wild cats, hyenas, wild boar, porcupine and mongoose can be found in the region.
- Flora: The principal vegetation types are tropical dry deciduous forest dominated by Acacia nilotica intermixed with dry grassland.
- River: Gambhir and Banganga are two rivers that flow through this National Park.
What are Protected Areas in Rajasthan?
- Tiger Reserves:
- Ranthambore Tiger Reserve (RTR) in Sawai Madhopur
- Sariska Tiger Reserve (STR) in Alwar
- Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve (MHTR) in Kota
- National Park:
- Desert National Park, Jaisalmer
- Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur
- Wildlife Sanctuary:
- Sajjangarh wildlife sanctuary, Udaipur
- National Chambal Sanctuary (on tri-junction of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh).
UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
Q. Consider the following pairs: (2014)
| Wetlands | Confluence of Rivers | ||
| 1. | Harike Wetlands | : | Confluence of Beas and Satluj/Sutlej |
| 2. | Keoladeo Ghana | : | Confluence of Banas National Park and Chambal |
| 3. | Kolleru Lake | : | Confluence of Musi and Krishna |
Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Ans: (a)
