PUNJAB: Between the Himalayan foothills and the desert of Rajasthan lies the fertile land of five rivers—Punjab. The state is now highly developed with extensive irrigation projects to enable intensive agriculture. A consequence of this is that there are few wilderness areas left. The declared reserves are small, with the exception of the Abohar Sanctuary (73 sq miles/188 sq km) which, being in Firozpur district, close to the border with Pakistan, cannot be visited. The other sanctuaries are Bir Bunar Geri Sanctuary (3 sq miles/8 sq km), Patiala dist: Bir Gurdialpura Sanctuary (0.4 sq mile/1 sq km), Patiala dist.; Bir Motibagh Sanctuary (2 sq miles/5 sq km), Patiala dist; Garike Lake Sanctuary (16 sq miles/41 sq km), Amritsar dist. Information on all the above can be obtained from Chief Wildlife Warden, SCD 2463-64. Sector 22-C, Chandigarh.
