D.S.

Kabir andOur Nature

A.Z. Ahmed(2005)3:83-90
/ Our Nature (2005)3:83-90

Wildlife Biodiversity in Bhawal National Park: Management

Techniques and Drawbacks of Wildlife Management and
Nature Conservation
D.S. Kabir and A.Z. Ahmed
Environmental Biology Laboratory, School of Environmental Science and Managemnt, Independent University,
Bangladesh Plot # 14, Road #14, Baridhara, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh
Email: [email protected]

Abstract
This paper emphasizes wildlife biodiversity and the management techniques and drawbacks
particularly in Bhawal National Park. The park was declared a National Park in 1982; there
was a great diversity of animal species at Bhawal National Park especially peafowl and
jungle fowl dating back, to the British era as well as the Pakistani era. But unfortunately
during and after 1971 there were neither reports nor any sighting of these attractive creatures.
It is also remarkable; the remaining creatures such as civet, skunk, mongoose etc are
endangered as well.
The park management techniques and how they can be improved in order to preserve
wildlife from the viewpoint of the Forest Department as the villagers couldn’t give any.
Information through field observations, interviews and focus group discussions were
collected. Conservation is the only alternative measure remaining for the rapidly dwindling
small area of the Sal forest; The WMNCC will definitely have to come into effect if a
consensus and status of the existing wildlife is to be published; The park management staff
can also put up some colorful signboards depicting what species of wildlife that the tourist
can find; Co-management of protected areas has great importance for conservation.
Key words: Bhawal National Park, Management technique, Nature conservation, Wildlife
biodiversity

Introduction
Sal forests constitute a unique biological occupied by forestry companies or displaced
diversity, covering vast areas in the centre people (Gain, 1998). Contribution on forest
and east of Bangladesh. They constitute 70- management (Bourgecis, 2003), resident
75% "Sal" trees (Shorea robusta) including people and protected area (Calhaun, 1991),
several other valuable trees and herbaceous natural resource management (Michel and
species like the sun grass. Nevertheless, the Gayton, 2002), and structure and diversity of
Asian Development Bank (ADB) has actively natural and managed Sal forest in the Terai of
promoted the destruction of the "Sal" forests Nepal (Webb and Ram, 2003) have also
by considering them of low productivity. In focus on the wildlife biodiversity.
this regard, financing projects were granted The wildlife at Bhawal National Park was
for tree monoculture plantations using well known for its peacocks, tiger, leopard
Eucalyptus and rubber among other species. (black panther also) elephant, clouded
Nowadays, the only big patch of Sal forest leopard, sambar deer, etc. However, the
standing is that of Madhupur. Most of the overall situation is that these wild lives have
forestland has been denuded, degraded and disappeared and few mammals (squirrel,

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mongoose, jackal, civet, jungle cat, etc.), few (24 species climber, 27 species grass, 3
reptiles (monitor lizard, snakes) and some species palm, 105 species herb, 19 species
indigenous birds remain (Sarker and Fazlul shrubs and 43 species tree) have been
Huq, 1985). Another corresponding survey recorded. Among trees, Ajuli Dillenia
has identified a total 64 animal species (10 pentagyna, kumbhi Careya arborea,
amphibians, 9 reptiles, 39 birds and 6 Terminalia belerica, Gandhi gajari Miliusa
mammals). velutura, etc. are commonly found in the
The objectives of the study were to record national park. The undergrowth vegetations
and assess the present situation of animal include Melostoma, Lantala, moinakata
species such as, the amphibians, reptiles, Randia dumetorum, etc. This national park is
birds and mammals; to identify the inhabitated by a few mammals such as Vulpes
constraints and contentment; and to study the bengalensis, jackal Canis aureus, small
park management techniques and make some Indian civet Viverricula indica, wild boar Sus
recommendations on how to improve it, in scrofa, etc. The avifauna is similar to that
order to preserve of what’s left. found in Madhupur National Park (Sarker
and Fazlul Huq, 1985). Recreational and
Study area: educational facilities have been improved in
The study area lies in Dhaka Forest Division, the beginning under the management of the
about 40 km north of the capital city Dhaka, Forest Development (FD) but plans were
from where it is easily accessible throughout gradually discontinued and operations
the year by road. It has been kept under became limited to reforestation of damaged
IUCN management category as a protected areas (Oliver, 1979; Womersley, 1979;
landscape. Sarker and Fazlul Huq, 1985). Because of
This Bhawal National park (24°01'N, removal of original forest vegetation,
90°20'E), Gazipur was established and depletion of wildlife from this park has taken
maintained as a national park in 1974 but not place now.
declared officially until 1982 under the
Bangladesh Wildlife Act, 1974. This national Materials and Methods
park covers 5,000 ha but sometimes for The materials used for conservation were
development works, it extends to the middle information from primary sources such as
of the park's core area of 940 ha. The present interviews and also from books and journals.
feature of the forest area is actually honey- The method that was applied was spotting,
combed with habitations and rice fields. The identifying and recording the wildlife that
topography is characterized by low hills, came across and finally using the IUCN Red
which rise 3.0-4.5 m above the surrounding Book of threatened birds, mammals, reptiles
paddy fields locally known as 'chalas' are and amphibians to check the status of the
intersected by numerous depressions or baids. wildlife; had come across as for information
The dominant forest trees Sal Shorea obtained from the villagers and FD officials
robusta of the national park have been almost focus group discussions and a one-on-one
completely removed, but now protection Q&A discussion method was applied
program has planted sal which covers 90% of respectively. In total, 13 people were
the area (Womersley, 1979; Sarker and Fazlul interviewed among which 10 people were
Huq, 1985). Recently, 221 species of plants villagers and 3 were FD officials.

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Focus group discussion (after 1971), the population of mammals have
In focus group discussion, the elder men were decreased remarkably, however, birds
asked about wildlife with regards to British, population show constancy in the dwindling
Pakistani and Present day (after1971), what habitats. The birds, reptiles and mammals
types of wildlife such as birds, mammals, recorded during the survey are listed in the
reptiles and amphibians exist here, what were tables 1-3 and the reasons for depletion of
the reasons they thought were responsible for animals in the tables 4-7.
wildlife deterioration, did they agree with the
FD’s management techniques. On the status Discussion
of the wildlife of the past, they being elderly From the FGD that took place the
men told the names one by one as for the information regarding the time line analysis
number of wildlife that exist today they gave the mammalian fauna was very rich during
only guessed numbers, as for wildlife the British period. The tiger and the leopard
deterioration, they strongly accused the FD. were very numerous then and at times preyed
on the livestock of the local villagers as well
One-on-one Q and A discussion as instilling fear inside them and at times the
In one-on one Q&A discussion the two ACFs villagers would come across a cattle carcass.
as well as the forest ranger was asked about As for the other mammalian species there
the wildlife management techniques, their was nothing significant about them though
success rates, the drawbacks of management the sambar deer was remarkably attractive for
particularly the Wildlife Management and its antlers. Among the avifauna, the most
Nature Conservation Circle that only exists notable birds were the peacock and the jungle
nominally and the problems with the villagers fowl. The peacock was numerous which was
in not wanting to give up land to the FD. why Bhawal National Park was often called
Peacock Park. The jungle fowl was a smart
Results creature detecting the presence of humans
From the discussion with the villagers and took off before they could arrive there to
especially the elderly men, the information catch them and in order to catch them
regarding wildlife species, number and domestic chicken would be used as bait to
habitat from the British period to the present attract them.
day are given below in their own version. In In the Pakistani period the leopard and the
the British time habitats were dense forest tiger dwindled and a few of the big cats, etc
cover as well as dense underground growth remained but the real loss in wildlife
for peacock (1000), Panthera spp. > 100, biodiversity took place during the war from
deer > 100 or so, pangolins 50 or so >500, that situation arose the present situation that
raptors >50, bears 100, innumerable, leopard, can be seen on Table 1.
elephant, clouded leopard, gaur etc. From the discussion regarding frogs, the
Similarly, before 1971 in Pakistan period, most common ones were the Indian bullfrog,
there still existed peafowl, jungle fowl, wild Common Indian tree frog, Cricket frog and
boar, barking deer, clouded leopard, leopard, the common asian toad (Tables 3A, 3B and
etc. in the same habitat like that of British 3C). About reptiles, the Bengal monitor, the
period but environment was being worse than pythons, the kraits, cobras and keelbacks are
what it was in the past. In Bangladesh period the most common.

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Figure 1. Abundance of 10 most dominant birds during the study periods
140
20/3 27/3 4-Mar 19/4 25/4 Total
120
100
Frequency

80
60
40
20
0
macrocercus
Turdoides

garzetta

Cuculus
xanthrus

Oriolus orilus
Dendrocitta
Egretta
Oriolus

benghalenese
Streptopelia

Eudynamys
vagabunda

varius
striatus

Dicrurus

Dinpoium
scolopacea
chinesis

Species

Table 1. Time line analysis

Period Pre-existing wildlife Number of species Habitat
British era Peacocks, tiger, leopard Peacocks: about 1,000 (say) Dense forest cover as
(Black panther also) Pantheridae species: well as dense under
elephant, clouded leopard, Deer: >100 or so growth for most species
Himalayan black bear, Pangolins: 50 or so: >500 that have been mentioned
barking deer, gaur, etc Raptors: >50 here
Bears: 100
Birds: innumerable (in thousands)
Pakistani Peafowl, jungle fowl, Wild Peacocks and other birds: about 500 Dense forest but
boar, barking deer, clouded or more (say) somewhat less than
leopard, leopard, etc Barking deer: 100 or so compared to what it was
Cats: around 100 in the past.
Bangladesh Fox, jackal, small Indian Mammals: 100 or so Dense undergrowths and
(After civet, fishing cat, etc and Birds: innumerable covers of what ever
1971) birds such as Jungle Babbler, remains
etc

Table 2. Name of birds that were spotted in the study spots along with their names and numbers.
Frequency
Total

English name Scientific name Family name 2004/ 2004/ 2004/ 2004/ 2004/
3/20 3/27 4/03 4/19 4/25
Jungle babbler Turdoides striatus Sylvidae 25 25 25 25 25 125
Black-headed oriole Oriolus xanthrus Oriolidae 7 - 5 3 1 16
Black drongo Dicrurus macrocercus Dicuridae 6 7 8 13 2 36
Spotted dove Streptopelia chinesis Columbidae 6 11 1 11 8 37
Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopacea Cuclidae 6 - - - - 6

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Little egret Egretta garzetta Ardeidae 8 - - - 2 10
Golden oriole Oriolus orilus Oriolidae 1 - - - - 1
Indian treepie Dendrocitta vagabunda Corvidae 5 - - 6 - 11
Common Hawk
Cuckoo (Brainfever Cuculus varius Cuclidae 3 - - - - 3
bird)
Lesser Golden-backed
Dinpoium benghalenese Picidae 2 - 1 - 1 4
woodpecker
Brahminy kite Haliastur Indus Accippitridae 2 2 1 1 2 8
Black kite (Pariah kite) Milvus migrans Accippitridae 2 2 1 2 2 9
Red-vented bulbul Pycnonotus cafer Pycnonotidae 1 - - - - 1
Rose-ringed parakeet Psitticula-ta krameri Psitticidae 1 3 - - - 4
Stone chat Saxicola torquata Muscicapidae 1 9 5 25 - 40
Common myna Acrido therestis Sturnidae - 1 5 - - 6
Red-whiskered bulbul Pycnonotus jacosus Pycnonotidae - 5 - - - 5
Jungle crow Corvus macrorhynchos Corvidae - 1 8 - - 9
Small blue kingfisher Alcedo atthis Alcedinidae - - 10 1 - 11
Oriental magpie robin Copysychus saularis Muscicapidae - - 1 - - 1
Blue rock pigeon Columbia livia Columbidae - - 1 - 1 2
Indian pond heron Ardeola grayii Ardeidae - - - - -
Orange-headed thrush Zoothera citrina Muscicapidae - - - 1 13 14
Little scaly-bellied
Picus xanthopygaeus Picidae - - - 1 - 1
green woodpecker
Large cuckoo-shrike Corcina macei Corvidae - - - 1 - 1
Rufous-backed shrike Lanis schach Corvidae - - - 1 1 2
Common Hoopoe Upopa Epops Upipidae - - - 2 - 2
Asian pied starling Sturnus contra Sturnidae - - - 1 - 1
Common iora Aegithina tiphia Corvidae - - - - 2 2
Total birds (29 species) and individuals 76 66 72 94 60 368

Table 3. Amphibians, Reptiles and Mammals

Name of interviewee Habitat Number and type of species
Amphibians
Indian Bullfrog Hoplobactrachus tigerinus
Sudhanya Burman Lakes and ponds
Estimated number: 100 or greater
Common Indian tree frog Polypedetaes
Abdur Rashid Trees close to a water body
maculatus Estimated number: >100
Ponds but sometimes can be found in Cricket frog Limnonectus limnocharis Estimated
Mahendra Burman
small puddles number: >100
Raj Kumar Common Asian Toad Bufo melanosticus
Same as that of the cricket frog
Md.Kumuruddin Estimated number: >100
Reptiles
Sudhanya Burman Under ground habitats some like the Bengal Monitor Varanus bengalensis
Abdur Rashid prefer the water Estimated number: 100
Mahendra Burman Rock Python Python molurus
Raj Kumar Estimated number: 50 or so
Md.Kumuruddin Checkered Keelback Xenochrophis piscator
Estimated number: 100

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Reticulated Python Python reticulata
Estimated number: 50
Bengal cobra Naja kouthia
Estimated number: 50
Mammals
Name of interviewee Habitat Number and type of species
Rhesus macaque Macaca mulatta
Forests, village and towns
Estimated number: >200
Sal Shorea robusta in association with Irrawaddy squirrel Collasciurus pygerythrus
Dillenia pentagnya, etc. Estimated number: >200
Sudhanya Burman
Any kind of environment such as Jackal Canis aureus
Abdur Rashid
villages Estimated number: >100
Mahendra Burman
Raj Kumar Bengal fox Vulpes bengalensis
Open lands, scrubs and cultivation
Md.Kumuruddin Estimated number:>100
Common Mongoose Herpestes edwardsii
Woods, bushes and scrubs
Estimated number: >100
Long grass or scrubs to live in, Small Indian civet Viverricula indica
shelters under holes or under rocks Estimated number: >100
Table 4: Reasons or factors responsible for wildlife deterioration
Name of interviewee The reasons for wildlife deterioration Response
1 Corruption on the part of the wildlife officials
2 Illegal logging of trees
1 Sudhanya Burman 3 Encroachment of the forest by the farmers Reasons 1 and 2
4 Poaching of animals
5 All of the above
Same as that of the first
2 Abdur Rashid Do
interviewee
3 Mahendra Burman Do Same reason
4 Raj Kumar Do Reason 3
5 Md. Kumuruddin Do Reason 3

Table 5. Wildlife management techniques applied in the national park

Techniques Success rate
1 No electronic equipments allowed 95%
2 Nesting, roosting and food for birds >90%
3 No hunting almost 100%
Table 6. Problems associated with management of wildlife from the forest officials’ viewpoint
Problem 1 Beat controlled by Rajendrapur range
Problem 2 Not a 100 percent Reserve forest
Problem 3 52 families still residing in the 400 acres of forest land
Problem 4 No survey nor any consensus was carried out regarding information of mammals and reptiles
Problem 5 DFO carrying out both functions regarding Forest Department as well as that of WMNCC
Problem 6 No independent DFO as well as no jurisdiction under the present DFO
Table 7. Problems with people of Bonogram (Kuichamara) village and the FD
Problem 1 Reluctant to give up land
Problem 2 Wants a new bridge to be build up and a new road to be build up for ease of travel
Problem 3 Considers FD to be the bigger thieves

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As for mammals, the monkey they say is of the forest land that have to give their land
very troublesome during the paddy-collecting to the FD which is the third problem and is in
season along with the wild boar and barking fact connected to the second problem. The
deer can be seen coming out from the army fourth, fifth and sixth problems are more
cantonment where the wildlife roams freely connected to each other than the second and
and undisturbed. the third since the DFO of the FD is also the
The first 3 people said reasons 1 and 2 as DFO of the Wildlife Management and Nature
because they are inter-connected and also Conservation Circle (WMNCC) and
they had personal grudges. The last two WNMCC happens to be a revived name of
people said reason 3 as well as only the pre- the previously known Wildlife Circle that
sence of sal trees, which cannot forever sus- was established in 1976 but abolished in
tain birds and primates. 1983allgedly in the interests of the economy
From the Q&A that with the forest and following the Inam Commission, it only
officials regarding wildlife management exists in paper and pen and till-to-date there
techniques (Table5), the success rate for not is no jurisdiction under the present DFO, as it
allowing electronic equipments was 95% has not yet come from the government also
because there are still a few people who the ACF and DFO are synonymously called
secretly bring their stereos in the park that the FD ACF and DFO as well as the
resulted in violent altercations with the FD WMNCC ACF and DFO though in the case
staff resulting in few people coming in the of the latter the term exists nominally. The
park nowadays and little revenue coming in. ACF stressed out that an independent DFO
Bird accommodation sites such as nesting, along with the government jurisdiction is a
roosting and feeding that have been set up must if the WMNCC is to take effect to
that has yielded more than 90% results as a obtain the consensus and status of the
result of the success of the first technique. No mammals as well as reptiles and amphibians,
hunting and illegal felling is almost 100% as which in the case of Khulna and Chittagong
there are guards checking the 942 hectares of has been successful.
forest round the clock only a few birds As well as problems with the people of
getting shot and only the monkey and the Bonogram (Kuichamara) village, the local
wild boar are driven away during the paddy villagers are reluctant to give up their land
season. claiming it to be the land of their forefathers
About problems associated with manage- saying what the FD do with more land as they
ment of wildlife from the forest officials’ already have 940 hectares of land besides the
viewpoint, the first problem is that trees that FD would not have any agricultural output.
are planted by the Bhawal National Park are They consider FD to be bigger thieves in the
grown and cared for in the Rajendrapur range sense that 4,000 spp. of trees such as
meaning that the ACFs have the dual mangium, acacia and shegun are gone and in
responsibility that in future could lead to their place only 10,000 acacia trees are there
clashes regarding administration of the trees. planted a few years ago on the high land also
Then second problem is that in order to have fruit trees dating back to the Raja of Bhawal
complete control of the forest it has to be 100 have totally disappeared and 5lakhs of older
% Reserved Forest (RF) and in order to be an trees have disappeared whenever a big
RF there are 52 families residing in 400 acres occasion takes place like the opening of

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market. Therefore if any outsider cuts a tree available at the net regarding the status of Sal
or a branch, it is nothing compared to what forests with regards and its resident wildlife
the FD does. The people want a new bridge to the interested persons.
to be built up to make it easier for them to Co-management of protected areas has
move from one union to another as well as great importance for conservation, although
for the school children they also want a new provision of benefits and compensation for
road to be built to facilitate their movements lost access remain major issues.
such as going to markets, so that the
picnickers can park their own vehicles. References
The only positive thing they had said was Bourgeois, W.W. 2003. Future forest management in
they found the forest management techniques British Columbia: A proposed vision, goals and
suitable to them because what is good for the forest management framework. British Columbia
Journal of Ecosystems and Management 4(1): art
forest is good for them and no mention of 2.
management techniques from their side only Calhoun, B.J. 1991. Plight of the Ik. In: Resident
for a wall to be built starting from the picnic Peoples and Protected Areas: Social Dilemmas
spot #10 to Kapashia main road. and Strategies in International Conservation,
(Eds. C.W. Pattrick and R.B. Steven). Tucson:
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tables and figure of the ten most dominants Gain, P. 1998. The last forests of Bangladesh. Society
bird species. for Environment and Human Development
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resource management: A dialogue. British
remained for the rapidly dwindling small area Columbia Journal of Ecosystems and Management
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motivation and campaign among the people management in Bangladesh. UNDP/FAO Project
can stop further depletion of the forest. BGD/72/005. FAO, Forest Research Institute,
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The WMNCC will have to come into Sarker, N.M. and A.K.M. Fazlul Huq 1985. Country
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National Parks and Protected Areas. Corbett
should as soon as possible give the National Park, India. 5p.
jurisdiction to an independent DFO. Webb, E.L. and N. Ram 2003. Structure and diversity
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Womersley, J.S. 1979. Botanic Garden Dacca,
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