Why is it in the News?

The Delhi High Court has criticized the forest department's proposal to hold a walkathon and cyclathon in a wildlife sanctuary, calling it a "haphazard exercise."

About Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary:

• Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary covers 32.71 sq. km on the Southern Delhi Ridge of the Aravalli hill range, bordering Delhi and Haryana.
• It's in Southern Delhi and parts of Faridabad and Gurugram districts in Haryana.
• It's a part of the Sariska-Delhi Wildlife Corridor, linking Sariska Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan to Delhi Ridge.
• The sanctuary gets its name from the contiguous Asola village near Tughlaqabad in the Delhi NCR.
• Vegetation: The vegetation is classified as Northern Tropical Thorn Forests, known for thorny appendages and special leaves.
• The climate has extreme summer heat and significant winter cold due to its inland position.
• Flora: The main exotic plant is Prosopis juliflora, and the primary native plant is Diospyros montana.
• Fauna: The sanctuary is home to various animals like Golden Jackals, striped hyenas, Indian Crested Porcupines, Civets, Jungle Cats, Snakes, Monitor Lizards, and Mongoose.
• This sanctuary plays a crucial role in connecting wildlife across different areas.