A review on the Studies on Faunal diversity, status, Threats and Conservation of Thar Desert or Great Indian Desert Ecosystem

ABSTRACT: Deserts cover more than one fifth of the Earth's land, and they are found on every continent. Far from being barren wastelands, deserts are biologically rich habitats with a vast array of animals and plants that have adapted to the harsh conditions there. The Thar Desert or Great Indian Desert is the world's tenth largest desert and forms a significant portion of western India and covers an area of about 2,78,330 sq km, of which 1,96,150 sq km (70%) is in Rajasthan, 62,180 sq km (23%) in Gujarat and about 20,000 sq km (7%) in Punjab and Haryana states. So far about 2,043 species from single celled animal Protozoa to Mammalia recorded from the Thar Desert. Of these, 619 species are of vertebrates and the rest are invertebrates. This faunal diversity comes to about 2.12 % of total Indian fauna, though the Thar occupies about 9 % of the country. The Thar desert being a fragile ecosystem is further threatened because of the rapid increase in human population specially in Rajasthan state. In recent years, human population in Rajasthan is further increasing by 3 % against 1.8 % at the national level. Though Indira Gandhi Canal has transformed more than 11 % un-inhabitated desert grassland into a fertile land, the indigenous biodiversity is under threat because the canal has changed the soil moisture, soil texture and vegetation composition. The Rajasthan State Government has declared number of areas as protected in the Thar desert region. The state government of Gujarat has established a Wild Ass Sanctury and Gir National Park to protect two endangered endemic mammal species, i.e., Wild Ass and Asiatic Lion. The Government of India has started a centrally sponsored scheme under the title of Desert Development Programme based on watershed management with the objective to check spreading of desert and improve the living condition of people in desert. Key Words: Faunal diversity, threats, conservation, Thar desert