If you’re accustomed to thinking that nature is to be found “out there,” then you make a vital mistake—human beings are part of nature, too. Furthermore, this line of thought obscures the more-than-human world we find right at our doorstep. As many cities and countries worldwide look to “rewild” their urban spaces, India is blessed with living landscapes that bring its residents closer to the natural world. However, many of them are struggling with urban pressures like encroachment, illegal construction, pollution, etc. These pockets of wilderness are integral to our mental and physical wellbeing and a reserve for species now threatened by climate breakdown.
Here are some of India’s urban wildernesses that you probably didn’t know about and what makes them special.
Named after the “Birdman of India,” the Dr Salim Ali Biodiversity Park was established in 1973 on the banks of the Mula Mutha River. The nine-hectare site is home to over 130 of birds, including the northern pintail, marsh harrier, grey wagtail, wood sandpiper and Siberian ducks, along with some birds of prey and 30 species of butterflies. These migratory birds play a crucial part in the river bank ecosystem by controlling the population of invertebrates, while the birds of prey control the resident bird population, thus keeping the ecosystem in balance. Just off Nagar Road near Yerawada, the sanctuary is a welcome escape for birders, but since it is not an official protected area, there is much to be desired in terms of upkeep and maintenance. While the park offers a respite from the pollution and noise that otherwise drowns Pune, it is threatened by anthropogenic pressures such as construction work, littering and polluted waterways.
Van Vihar National Park is nestled on the banks of the Bada Taalab and lies just eight kilometres from Bhopal Railway Station. Spanning 445 hectares, it was formalised as a national park in 1981 and is home to wild animals like leopards, white tigers, Bengal tigers and Indian bears. The open zoological park has huge wire enclosures to keep visitors and carnivorous animals like hyenas safe and separate. However, herbivores like chital and blackbuck are allowed to roam freely. The park is a rescue and conservation centre for many endangered and threatened species and houses a variety of reptiles, including crocodiles, snakes, and turtles. While here, consider “adopting” an animal and pay for its care and wellbeing. You will receive a certificate, photograph and regular report of how your adopted animal is doing. The best time to visit is in the morning when the chirping of birds is like music to your ears.
Covering 125 square kilometres and including salt marshes, agricultural fields, sewage farms and settling ponds in its bounds, the East Kolkata Wetlands (EKW) are “a wetland of international importance” under the Ramsar Convention. The site is considered a natural treatment system for solid and soluble waste, receiving about 1,000 million litres of wastewater daily before filtering and discharging it into the Bay of Bengal three or four weeks later. The EKW is supposedly the largest “wastewater-fed aquaculture system” in the world, where the sewage is recycled for pisciculture and agriculture. Effluent-based paddy cultivation and garbage-based vegetable farming are integrated with the fishery system in ways that complement the production processes. Furthermore, it locks in over 60 per cent of carbon from the wastewater it encounters, which might otherwise pile up in the atmosphere. There are about 100 plant species, over 40 bird species, numerous species of fish, around 20 types of mammals and a variety of snakes recorded in and around the EKW. However, just like the Dr Salim Ali Biodiversity Park, the East Kolkata Wetlands are threatened by urban encroachment and illegal landfills.
Located within city limits and flanked by luxury hotels and the Madras branch of the Indian Institute of Technology, Guindy National Park is covered with lush green vegetation and is an idyllic spot to escape the humidity and heat of Chennai. It is an extension of the grounds surrounding the Tamil Nadu Raj Bhavan and extends deep inside the Governor’s estate, totalling an area of 2.7 square kilometres. It is filled with picturesque forests, scrubs, and streams and is home to a remarkable assortment of flora and fauna. Some animals you can see here include blackbucks, jackals, spotted deer, snakes, tortoises, etc. Over 150 species of local and migratory birds have been found in the park, including crow pheasants, shrikes, tailorbirds, garganeys, herons and egrets, to name a few. A rescue and rehabilitation centre at the site looks after injured or abandoned animals before releasing them into the wild if it is safe to do. The park is open to volunteers looking to help out with the upkeep of the area so consider getting involved.
The Najafgarh “drain,” part of the River Sahibi and an extension of the Najafgarh Jheel (lake), is one of Delhi’s most polluted water bodies. Its label as a “drain” is a misnomer and points to how it’s been used by humans rather than its actual function. The 57-kilometre-long water body is a haven for birds, especially migratory waterfowl and waterbirds during the winter. Thus, the Delhi government had proposed to turn the site into an eco-tourism destination and bird sanctuary in 2022, but official confirmation is still pending. The Najafgarh “drain” has been widened over the past decades and now has thick mud embankments on both sides to channel its waters and protect Delhi from floods. These embankments have been planted with thick forest cover, which serves as a much-needed habitat for remnant local wildlife occurring in nearby and surrounding farmlands, including common foxes, jackals, hares, wild cats, nilgai, porcupines, and various reptiles and snakes. Due to the presence of the Indira Gandhi International Airport nearby, contact between birds and aeroplanes is a mounting concern, as is the development of housing colonies on the banks of the water body and the growth of invasive species like water hyacinths.