Forest Officials remember Mountain Quail Sanctuary in Mussoorie

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MUSSOORIE: Mar 20

Forest Officials  of Rajaji National Park finally remembered Mountain Quail Sanctuary after years of neglect by organizing a talk on   forest fire safety at Ghadiala Village near Cloud end resort in the range of ‘Mountain Quail Sanctuary’. The senior forest officials including Suresh Kumar highlighted the importance of joint cooperation with the villagers in securing and preserving the forest. He also said hat the villagers were eyes and ears of the forest department and close coordination was essential. The function was presided by Jagat Singh. However some villagers were skeptic at this whole exercise and were of the view that it was the same department which falsely declared the park as Mountain Quail Sanctuary whereas the Quails were extinct long way back.RAMESH (name Changed) said that this was being done to save the land of Bhilaru in Mussoorie from being returned to Nagar Palika Mussoorie.It is recalled that Nagar Palika is demanding the Land back as the Rajaji National park has failed to pay compensation as agreed Upon. The resident of Mussoorie also said that the area near Cloud end was declared as Mountain Quail Sanctuary under a conspiracy to usurp the land by the concerned department. Amichand Rana forest guard and other staff were also present on the occasion.   

. The sanctuary lies close to Mussoorie.

 Mountain Quail, believed to the extinct now, was last spotted in this part in 1876. Trekking and mountaineering are also arranged.

This region is the catchments of the Aglar River, a tributary of theYamuna. It offers panoramic views of snow peaks like Chaukhamba and Bandarpunch. Nearby interesting destinations are Jharipani,Jwalaji Temple, Dhobi Ghat and Cloud End Forest Resort.

The Quail Sanctuary established in 1993 spreads over 339 hectares and lies at an elevation of 2,500 m in Binog forest. The forest is surrounded with forests of pine, oak and flowering shrubs. Herbivores, carnivores, primates, reptiles and avi-fauna are found here.It is home to several species of quails, mountain goats and barking deer. The locals say they’ve even spotted Leopards in the sanctuary. Unfortunately we did not sight a single animal. It is also supposed to be the home for Mountain Quail, a bird that was last spotted in 1876. The ornithologists still hope that the bird might be rediscovered.Jolly grant Airport is the nearest airport. The nearest railway station  is at Dehradun.. It is well connected by road with Mussoorie and Dehradun. The entry point in Binog Block is from Dhobhi Ghat, which is on the Mussoorie–Kempty road.