Interpretation Programme for Keoladeo National Park

One of the most enchanting waterfowl refuges of the world, a Ramsar site and a World Heritage Site, Keoladeo National Park (KNP) is home to rich biological diversity.

This is a man-made and man managed wetland. The reserve while protecting Bharatpur from frequent floods also provided grazing grounds for village cattle but was primarily used as a waterfowl hunting reserve. This was notified as a bird sanctuary in the year 1956 and was elevated to a National Park as late as in 1982. 

This 29-sq. km. Reserve locally known as Ghana is a mosaic of dry grasslands, woodlands, woodland swamps, and wetlands. These diverse habitats are home to 366 bird species, 379 floral species, 50 species of fish, 13 species of snakes, 5 species of lizards, 7 amphibian species, 7 turtle species, and a variety of other invertebrates.

Every year thousands of migratory waterfowl visit the park for wintering breeding etc. The highlight of the park is that it is the only known wintering area of the highly endangered central population of Siberian Cranes.

For conservation to be achieved sound understanding of the National Park is required and a comprehensive Interpretation programme aims at the same. Realizing the importance of correct interpretation for achieving long-term conservation WWF-India has envisioned such a programme for KNP.

By virtue of being one of the best birdwatching sites of Asia more than 100,000 visitors come to the park every year. The range of visitors also varies from very serious birdwatchers to school children to general tourist among which nearly 45,000 visitors come from abroad. In addition the location of the park is such that tourist visiting Agra, Mathura and Jaipur invariably stop over at Bharatpur.

Being at such a lucrative location even low budget tourists visit the park. All these factors make the target group extremely diverse. To top all this and contribute to further diversity of the stakeholders of the park, 11 villages surround the park. So the stakeholder group varies from rickshaw pullers, guides, tour operators, tourists, park staff, the Royal family of Bharatpur and the local community.

The location, the characteristics, the importance of the park all makes its requirements very unique as well as very diverse.

WWF-India has been involved with conservation activities in KNP for more than a decade now. WWF - India has developed this Interpretation programme keeping in view the exclusive requirement of the Park. The programme is dedicated to late Dr. Salim Ali and titled "Salim Ali Interpretation Centre and Programme."

The Programme aims to achieve long-term conservation of the park by increasing awareness and appreciation towards the Keoladeo National Park among visitors as well as local people. The programme focuses on information dissemination and awareness building through a three pronged approach:

• Establish a functioning environment information and awareness programme.
• Esttablish infrastructure for the programme
• Build adequate capacity to run the awareness programme

The Programme is of great pride to WWF-India as it is the first of its kind for a Wetland National Park in India. The main components of the programme consist of education and awareness compaigns for the local people, preparation of varied resource material for wider dissemination, capacity building of the park staff and guides & tour operators by means of training. Other key elements are Visitor Interpretation Centre and nature trails, signages etc inside the park.

The project is functional for nearly 3 years now and has established a strong presence with the local community. The education and awareness programmes are ongoing. Tailor made trainings for the guides and rickshaw pullers on communication skills has been appreciated tremendously and are a regular feature.

Various resource material have been developed, a film on Keoladeo National Park is being made which would be used a wide tool for E & A programmes. A website on the Park and the programme are on for wide range information dissemination and communication. The centre is nearly ready, the themes and exhibits have all been conceptualized. The project aims at best understanding and appreciation of the National Parks and wildlife.

In this venture the Forest Dept. Rajasthan has been a huge support and is also the project partner. Swarovski and Co. an Austrian Crystal company have supported the Project financially as a part of their environmental endeavor.

When the centre comes up and a functional programme is on it would have been the result of a united effort of "many hands towards one aim of conservation of KNP."

The KNP Interpretation Programme has developed a website for Keoladeo National Park as its project output.  To visit the site please click here