Dampa Tiger Reserve

Dampa Tiger Reserve
IUCN Category II (National Park)
Dampa Tiger Reserve
Location	Mizoram, India
Nearest city	Aizawl
Coordinates	23°25′N 92°20′E / 23.417°N 92.333°E / 23.417; 92.333Coordinates: 23°25′N 92°20′E / 23.417°N 92.333°E / 23.417; 92.333
Area	550 square kilometres (210 sq mi).
Established	1985
Visitors	NA
Governing body	Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India

Dampa Tiger Reserve, the largest^{[citation needed]} wildlife sanctuary in Mizoram, was notified in 1985 and declared a Tiger Reserve in 1944. It is situated in the western part of Mizoram state, on the international border with Bangladesh about 127 km from Aizawl. It covers an area of approximately 550 km².^[1] The tropical Forests of Dampa are home to rich flora and fauna. It consists of forest interpolated with steep precipitous hills, deep valleys, jungle streams, ripping rivulets, natural salts licks, with an altitudinal zone of 200 - 800 mts.

Flora and fauna

The forest is composed of a mixture of species such as Dipterocarpus turbinatus, Dipterocarpus macrocarpus, Terminalia myriocarpa, Michelia champaca, Artocarpus chaplasha, Sterculia villosa, Pterospermum personatum, Toona ciliata, Chukrasia tabularis, Syzygium cumini, Adinia cordifolia, etc and many species of bamboos, canes and epiphytes.

Dampa Tiger Reserve encompasses a variety of rare and endangered animals in abundance. The comprehensive list of fauna found in the Sanctuary are: Rhesus macaque, Leaf monkey (Dawr), Pigtail macaque (Chengker Zawng), Stumptail macaque(Zawngmawt), Hoolock gibbon (Hauhuk), Assamese macaque (Phaizawng), Slow lorris (Sahuai), Giant squirrel (Awrrang), Tiger (Keipui), Leopard (Keite), Indian Elephant (Sai), Gaur (Sele), Serow (Saza), Barking deer (Sakhi), Wild boar (Sanghal), Porcupine (Sakuh)), Sloth bear (Mangtir), Himalayan black bear (Savawm). Birds include: Great Hornbill (Vapual), Oriental Pied Hornbill (Vahai), Grey Peacock Pheasant (Varihaw), Red Junglefowl (Ramar), Crested Serpent Eagle (Muvanlai), Emerald Dove (Ramparva), Hill Myna (Vaiva). Invertebrates include: Indian Rock Python (Saphai), King Cobra (Chawngkawr), Monitor lizard (Tangkawng), Hill Tortoise (Satel).

See also

• List of Protected areas in India
• Protected areas of India
• National parks of India
• Reserved forests and protected forests of India

References

1. ^ "Mizoram Tourism - Dampa Tiger Reserve". http://mizotourism.nic.in/Dampa%20Wildllife.htm. Retrieved 2011-06-26. 

• Report of Dampa
• Raman, T. R. S., Rawat, G. S., & Johnsingh, A. J. T. 1998. Recovery of tropical rainforest avifauna in relation to vegetation succession following shifting cultivation in Mizoram, northeast India. Journal of Applied Ecology 35: 214-231.