Sohagi Barwa Wildlife Sanctuary
30-12-2023
Sohagi Barwa Wildlife Sanctuary
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For Prelims: About Sohagi Barwa Wildlife Sanctuary(Location and boundary), Flora, Fauna, Valmiki Tiger Reserve |
Why in the news?
Recently, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh directed officials to conduct archaeological excavation in the Sohagi Barwa Wildlife Sanctuary.
About Sohagi Barwa Wildlife Sanctuary:
- It is located in the Maharajganj district of Uttar Pradesh.
- It was declared as a Wildlife Sanctuary in June 1987.
- Mainly Tharu and Mushar tribes live near this sanctuary.
Location and boundary
- In Maharajganj district of UP, 50 km from Gorakhpur.
- In north the WLS has an international Indo-Nepal border and in the eastern border is Bihar’s Valmiki Tiger Reserve.
- Coordinates - between 26° 58’ to 27° 25’ N and 83° 23’ to 84°10’ E.
- It is also recognized as an Important Bird Area.
Rivers: It is drained by the great Gandak, the little Gandak, Pyas and Rohin rivers.
Flora:
- Nearly 75% of the area consists of Sal forest, and other humid areas are covered with Jaamun, Gutal, Semal, Khair trees, etc.
- Lower region of the sanctuary, which is water logged during rains, consists of Grasslands and patches of Cane forests.
Fauna:
- It is inhabited by a variety of animals which mainly includes Leopard, Tiger, Jungle Cat, Small Indian Civet, Langur, etc.
- The Avifauna is varied with Little Cormorant, Snake Bird, Brahimini Duck, Common Teal, Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Paddy Bird etc.
Valmiki Tiger Reserve
- It is the only tiger reserve in Bihar and forms the easternmost limit of India’s Himalayan Terai forests.
- The forest contains a mix of bhabar and terai tracts and is located in the Gangetic Plains bio-geographic zone.
- In 1978, it was designated as a Wildlife Sanctuary.
- In 1990, Valmiki National Park was established.
- The Valmiki Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park is the country’s 18th Tiger Reserve. Valmiki National Park and Valmiki Wild Sanctuary make up the Valmiki Tiger Reserve.
- The tiger reserve shares a border with Nepal’s Chitwan National Park.
- The park is bisected by two rivers: the Gandak and the Masan River. Valmiki wildlife sanctuary is bordered on the west by the River Gandak.
- It enters India at Valmikinagar, where it is joined by two rivulets, Sonha and Pachnad, to form the holy Triveni confluence.
- According to the Tiger Census, 2018, the number of tigers in Valmiki Tiger Reserve is 32.
- According to the Forest Survey of India Report 2021, 85.71% of its total area is covered by forest cover.
Source:Hindustan Times