On Sariska National Park

If books were any indication of the importance of wildlife areas in the country, you’d be forgiven for believing that we’ve got little apart from Corbett, and maybe Bharatpur. Sariska National Park by Himraj Dang (Indus; Rs 200) is therefore a welcome addition. It comes at a time when, as Dang points out, “the park is under severe pressure from all sides and within.” Dang describes the physical features of the park, its conservation history and a comprehensive list of its plants, mammals and birds. The latter half of the book focuses on the severe ecological threat to Sariska from grazing and poaching, often by villagers who live within the park. The chapter on wildlife conservation in India, where Dang makes sweeping statements on everything from tourism to the Tribal Rights Bill can definitely be skipped. The book could also do with better (and more) photographs, a map and more practical information on visiting the park. This is a well informed but badly organised book by someone who obviously knows and cares deeply about the park.