New Delhi: A comprehensive 10-year management plan for the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary, developed by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), has documented the presence of 23 mammal species within the sanctuary. Among the species recorded are leopards, striped hyenas, common palm civets, and golden jackals, highlighting the biodiversity of this urban-adjacent protected area.
Core Zone and Tourist Zone Proposals
The plan proposes the designation of 9 square kilometers as a core zone, intended as a critical wildlife habitat with minimal human disturbance. Additionally, 7.6 square kilometers would be allocated as a tourist zone, where structured nature education and low-impact recreation would be permitted. To maintain ecological balance, the plan recommends establishing the sanctuary’s ‘carrying capacity’ to regulate the number of visitors allowed at any given time.
Camera Trap Findings
Using 23 camera traps, WII recorded 18 wild mammal species and five stray or domestic species. Rhesus macaques, nilgais, and golden jackals were the most frequently captured, indicating their wide habitat tolerance. In contrast, rare detections included leopards, striped hyenas, common palm civets, and sambars, suggesting low densities and restricted distribution. The presence of predators like leopards and hyenas was mostly noted in less-disturbed patches, while herbivores such as nilgai and chital were widespread across open scrub and plantation zones.
Camera-trap data also revealed that stray cattle were widely distributed across the sanctuary, making them the second-most abundant mammal group after rhesus macaques. Four main types of livestock were recorded: cows (7%), buffaloes (4%), pigs (0.6%), and camels (0.4%). Other species sighted include ruddy mongooses, Indian boars, Indian hares, and Indian crested porcupines.
Management Recommendations
The plan, effective until 2034-35, recommends scientific assessments to estimate the rhesus macaque population, phasing out artificial feeding, and implementing scientifically managed sterilization for sustainable wildlife population management. It emphasizes dividing the sanctuary into five zones based on carnivore movement patterns, ecological restoration needs, tourism activities, and urban fringe complexities.
Zone Details
The core zone, ecologically the most sensitive area, will serve as a critical wildlife habitat. The study documented active leopard and jackal movement in some stretches with minimal human disturbance, making these areas suitable for core zone designation. This area extends from Neeli Jheel through abandoned Bhatti mines to below Bhatti village, functioning as a key carnivore corridor linking directly with Haryana’s forests.
Spanning approximately 24 square kilometers, the conservation zone will act as a buffer to the core area, focusing on habitat restoration, species protection, and long-term ecological monitoring. The tourism zone, overlapping the core and conservation areas, will extend from the main entrance to Neeli Jheel, offering structured nature education programs and designated tourism sites for awareness and low-impact recreation.
The sanctuary recorded footfalls of 33,897 in 2023-24 and 26,954 in 2024-25. An assessment will be conducted to permit only a limited number of tourists per day beyond certain points, minimizing wildlife disturbance while providing meaningful experiences.
A 5-square-kilometer interpretation-cum-education zone is proposed, including areas for visitor engagement, learning, and nature-based recreation. This zone will feature the butterfly garden, Aravalli Forest Park, souvenir shop, ticket center, nurseries, cycle track, nature education center, and jungle trails.
Additionally, a 9.7-square-kilometer extended buffer zone will encompass several small, relatively unmanaged forest patches currently outside the sanctuary boundaries. Despite their fragmented condition, these patches hold critical ecological significance, with many water bodies serving as potential corridors for carnivore movement, linking the sanctuary with adjoining forests in Delhi and Haryana, as well as forested stretches toward Tughlaqabad.
