172 Abode of Go

climate of the sub-continent, as it has had in its past politic
history. As an impassable barrier to the north, the Himalayas a
.as a climate divide, effecting the air and water circulation systen
of the region. What we receive as a monsoon rain is large,
because of the orographic influence of the Himalayas on tit
Monsoon winds. All this and other factors have affected th
flora and fauna of the region which can be best studied by takin
Uttarakhand as sample of Himalayan flora and fauna.

Himalayan flora

The variegated nature of Himalayan flora has been best des
cribed elsewhere in this book. However, it may be recalled thai
Uttarakhand has nearly 23000 square miles of forest which ii
gradually diminishing as a result of which Himalayan fauna
has also been badly affected bacause a forest is a source foi
'shelter and shade, fruit and flower, fodder and fuel*. We are
causing our own destruction.

The significance of the fauna of Himalayas can be best described
from the following sloka of Gita —

It 30 \\
that is —
Among Daityas, I am Prahalad, among
Calculators, I am mighty time, among
Animals, I am tiger and among the birds
I am Garuda, the vehicle of Vishnu.
Uttarakhand is house of many wild animals and birds. Such
as the "khakor', barking deer, the 'ghural' or Indian Chamois,
the wild bear and occasionally a boar or leopard, not to mention
the Himalayan patridge 6chakor' and pheasants of different ;
kinds, the finest of which is 'monal,' with its splendid blue tint. I
I saw hundreds of them at Nagling (9500 ft) during my winter
halt at winter post of the special police force. Occasionally
'himal' is sighted above 14000 ft. We saw some of them at
Vasukital In the high Himalayas, snow leopard is found ever
alert. His toes are well adapted for stalking on the snow. The
hoofed animal produces crunchy sounds but the well poded and
sheathed feet and toes of the snow leopard glide almost without