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标题：Impact of Forest Fires and Shrinking Water Sources on the Elephants of Rajaji National Park, North - West India
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作者：Ritesh Joshi, Rambir Singh
期刊名称：Iranica Journal of Energy and Environment (IJEE)
印刷版ISSN：2079-2115
电子版ISSN：2079-2123
出版年度：2010
期号：3133
页码：305-314
出版社：Noshirvani University of TEchnology
摘要：Every year wildfires in Rajaji National Park, north-west India destroys more than 250 hectares of landscape encompassing tall grasslands and mixed forests. This is not only making a negative impact on wild species, but also causing a drastic impact on elephant’s seasonal movements. This study evaluated the impact of three fire seasons in 2007, 2008 and 2009 on the elephants of Chilla and Haridwar forest ranges. The 2008 forest fire burned 95 (0.64%) hectare of the Chilla forest followed by 2007 (75 hectare, 0.50%) and 2009 (60 hectare, 0.40%) whereas the 2007 fire burned 120 hectare (1.40%) of Haridwar forest followed by 2009 (105 hectare, 1.23%) and 2008 (95 hectare, 1.11%) fires. Scarcity of natural water during dry periods is another major factor which is affecting elephant’s movements within their home range. Chilla and Haridwar forests are currently facing water scarcity as far the elephant distribution is concerned, most of the perennial water sources have shrinked or remaining are on the verge of it, whereas before 2002 all of these water sources were fulfilled with tremendous water. Our review of available evidence suggests that wildfires and shrinkage of natural water sources have caused a catastrophic decline of free-ranging elephants from the Chilla and Haridwar forest ranges. All of these data support the importance of protecting the Rajaji National Park and its adjoining protected habitats as an important elephant range, linking different protected areas in north-west India.