Flora and Fauna of Etwah

Flora and Fauna of Etwah
The district of Etwah was earlier filled with wastelands. In 1888, it was Mr. Fisher, the then collector of Etawah pioneered the protection of land from erosion by planting forests. This forest is said to be largely responsible for saving Etawah city from the erosive action of the Yamuna. The Total forest area of Etwah is 301.04 sq. km, which constitutes 12.52% of the total geographical area. The flora of Etawah district comprise 560 species out of it 123 species are medicinal plants like Arjun, Neem, Bel, Indra Jav, Babool and Arvsa.

The trees found in the district are Dhak, Aonla, Arjun , Ashok, Asna, Bahera, Bargad, Barhal, Bel, Eucalyptus, Gular, Gul Mohar, Jamun, Kaitha, Kathal , Khair, Mahua, Litchi, Neem, Pipal, Sagon, Silver Oak, Kala siris, Safed Siris and Shisham. Grasses like Dub, Baib, Kans and spear grass are also found in abundance.

The fauna of the district are hyenas, wolves, Indian foxes, jackals, porcupines, monkeys, wild cats, hares and otters. The reptiles found here are crocodiles, turtles, tortoises, and lizards of all kinds ranging from the large tree-climbing animals called gosamp to the harmless house lizard. Snakes are not so abundant as in other districts except cobra and the krait.

There are a variety of birds in the district as kala titar or black partridge, gray parridge, quails, bater, lava , blue-rock pigeons, green pigeons ,ducks, pochards, sheldrakes and goose, peacocks, cranes, herons, waders, doves, parakeet, sparrows, shrikes, crows, rollers and other passerine birds.

The fishes found here are rohu, mullet, mugri, dingar, haren, bas, kalwas, chal, katiya, ghegra, bighun, jhingra, grach, bam, papta, pariyasi, gudheya, tengan, siland, and jhinga are found.