imported>BrownHairedGirl at 18:55, 26 May 2021

2021-05-26T18:55:29Z

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{{short description|Wildlife reserve in northern West Bengal, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2017}}
{{Infobox protected area
| name = Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary
| alt_name =
| photo =chapramari.jpg
| photo_alt =
| photo_caption = View from Chapramari Watch tower.
| photo_width =
| map = India| relief =1
| map_alt =
| map_caption = Location in West Bengal, India
| map_width =
|coordinates ={{coords|26.8746424|88.8551019|display=inline,title}}
| location = [[Jalpaiguri district]], [[West Bengal]], [[India]]
| nearest_city = [[Malbazar]], [[Mainaguri]], [[Jalpaiguri]]
| region =
| area =
| established = 1998
| visitation_num =
| visitation_year =
| governing_body = [[Government of India]], [[Government of West Bengal]]
| world_heritage_site =
| url =
}}
'''Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary''' (formerly '''Chapramari Wildlife Reserve''', pron: ˌʧʌprəˈmɑ:rɪ or ˌʧæprəˈmɑ:rɪ) is close to the [[Gorumara National Park]].<ref name="Tourism-Official">{{cite web | url = http://jalpaiguri.gov.in/html/tourism.html | title = Tourism | access-date = 2013-11-20 | work = Jalpaiguri Municipality | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121110120047/http://jalpaiguri.gov.in/html/tourism.html | archive-date = 10 November 2012 | url-status = dead }}</ref> Chapramari is about 30 kilometres from [[Chalsa, India|Chalsa]] and [[Lataguri]] in northern [[West Bengal]], [[India]]. The total coverage of the forest is 960 hectares.<ref name='CotW 2012-11-11'>{{cite news | title = Call of the Wild | first=Somen | last=Sengupta | date = 2012-11-11 | url = http://somensengupta.com/Images/Published%20Article/Chapramari_Statesman.pdf | work = The Statesman | pages = 5 | access-date = 2013-11-20}}</ref>

==History==
In 1896, an imperial forest-service administrator D.H.E. Sander first sent a proposal to the-then English-dominated Government of India that [[Chapramari]] could be developed into a tourism centre.<ref name='CotW 2012-11-11'/> The area was declared a national [[reserve forest]] in 1895 under the [[Indian Forest Acts, 1865 and 1878|Indian Forest Act]].<ref name='CotW 2012-11-11'/> In 1939, the name ''Chapramari Wildlife Reserve'' came to be used, while the Government of India, in 1998, gave it the status of a national [[wildlife sanctuary]].<ref name='CotW 2012-11-11'/> The name of the region comes from 'Chapra', a variety of small fishes found in northern Bengal, and 'Mari', meaning 'abundance'.<ref name='CotW 2012-11-11'/> Chapramari receives waters from the [[Teesta River|Teesta]], the [[Neora Valley National Park|Neora]], and the [[Murti, Jalpaiguri|Murti]].<ref name='CotW 2012-11-11'/>[[File:Chapramari Guest House.JPG|thumb|292x292px]]

==Wildlife==
A large variety of [[flora and fauna]] are found in the [[forests]]. Chapramari is known for its [[elephant]] population.<ref name="CotW 2012-11-11" /> [[Gaur]] (commonly known as Indian bison) are not uncommon in the Chapramari region. [[Rhinoceros]], [[Deer]], [[boars]], and [[leopards]] are also found there.<ref name="CotW 2012-11-11" /><ref name="Chakrabarti 2007-08-12">{{cite news | first = Chinmoy | last = Chakrabarti | title = Next weekend you can be at ... Paren | date = 2007-08-12 | publisher = [[The Telegraph (Calcutta)|The Telegraph]] | url = http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070812/asp/calcutta/story_8181281.asp | access-date = 2013-11-20}}</ref> However like [[Gorumara]], [[Royal Bengal Tiger]] are not found here. The place is popular with bird watchers, with [[parakeets]], [[kingfishers]], and [[Green pigeon|green pigeons]] found in abundance.<ref name="CotW 2012-11-11" />

In 2009, a marauding leopard was captured in [[Dooars]] and released into Chapramari.<ref name="ANI 2009-07-26">{{cite news | title = Recaptured leopard released into West Bengal sanctuary | date = 2009-07-26 | publisher = News Track India | url = http://www.newstrackindia.com/newsdetails/113699 | work = ANI | access-date = 2013-11-20}}</ref>

==Access==
[[New_Mal_Junction_railway_station|Malbazar Rail Station]] is the closest rail hub.<ref name='CotW 2012-11-11'/> Chapramari is located around two hours' drive from [[Siliguri]], the principal city in northern Bengal. The access from [[Jalpaiguri]] passes through the dense forests of [[Batabari]] range.

Due to complications caused by [[monsoon]]s, the wildlife sanctuary remains closed each year from mid-July to mid-September.<ref name='CotW 2012-11-11'/>

[[West Bengal Forest Development Corporation Limited]]<ref>https://www.wbfdc.com/</ref> operates a Chapramari camp.<ref name="Goodearth 2011">{{cite book|title=Wild Trail in Bengal: Travel Guide|publisher=Goodearth Publications|others=Mitra, Swati|year=2011|isbn=978-9380262161|pages=62–63|chapter=Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary}}</ref>

==Threat to elephants from railway==
The wildlife sanctuary is crossed by the railway line between Siliguri and Malbazar. Elephants have been killed by trains in several incidents. On 2002 February 8, a [[Siliguri]]-[[Alipurduar]] train killed one female elephant and injured two tuskers.<ref name='TNN 2002-02-12'>{{cite news | title = Elephant hit by train dies | date = 2002-02-12 | url = http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2002-02-12/kolkata/27140179_1_wild-elephants-chapramari-train-accident | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130917103017/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2002-02-12/kolkata/27140179_1_wild-elephants-chapramari-train-accident | url-status = dead | archive-date = 2013-09-17 | work = [[The Times of India]] | access-date = 2013-11-20}}</ref> An accident which killed seven elephants in 2010 led to a guideline speed of {{convert|40|kph|abbr=on}} for trains being set by Indian Railways.<ref name='CotW 2012-11-11'/>

===2013 train accident===
{{main|2013 Chapramari Forest train accident}}
At approximately 17:40 on 13 November 2013, an [[Assam]]-bound [[passenger train]] travelling through Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary, [[Jaipur]]-[[Kamakhya]] [[Kavi Guru Express]] (19709), approached the [[Jaldhaka River Bridge]] at approximately {{convert|80|kph|abbr=on}} and [[2013 Chapramari Forest train accident|collided with a herd of 40–50 Indian elephant]]s, killing five adults, two calves, and injuring ten others.<ref name='ET 2013-11-13'>{{cite news | first = Debasis | last = Sarkar | title = 'Railways Killer track' again kills 7 elephants in West Bengal | date = 13 November 2013 | url = http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-11-13/news/44030921_1_rail-track-elephants-new-jalpaiguri | work = The Economic Times | access-date = 14 November 2013}}</ref><ref name="IRI">{{cite web | url = http://indiarailinfo.com/train/jaipur-kamakhya-kavi-guru-express-19709-jp-to-kyq/15564/272/547 | title = 19709/Jaipur-Kamakhya Kavi Guru Express | access-date = 14 November 2013 | work = India Rail Info}}</ref><ref name='Banerjee 2013-11-14'>{{cite news | first = Manik | last = Banerjee | title = India Train Crash Kills 7 Elephants | date = 14 November 2013 | work = [[Huffington Post]] | url = http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/14/india-train-crash-elephants-killed_n_4272589.html | agency = Associated Press | access-date = 14 November 2013}}</ref> Surviving elephants initially fled but soon [[elephant cognition#Death ritual|returned to the scene of the accident]] and remained there until being dispersed by officials.<ref name='Banerjee 2013-11-14'/>

The accident has been described as the worst in recent history.<ref name='Withnall 2013-11-14'>{{cite news | first = Adam | last = Withnall | title = Speeding train kills at least seven elephants and injures 10 others in India | date = 14 November 2013 | url = https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/speeding-train-kills-at-least-seven-elephants-and-injures-10-others-in-india-8939117.html | work = The Independent | access-date = 14 November 2013}}</ref><ref name='Banerjee ABC 2013-11-14'>{{cite news | first = Manik | last = Banerjee | title = Train Mows Down, Kills 7 Elephants in East India | date = 14 November 2013 | work = [[ABC News]] | url = https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/train-mows-kills-elephants-east-india-20884192 | agency = Associated Press | access-date = 14 November 2013}}</ref> Officials plan to launch an investigation into its cause.<ref name='2013-11-14 UPI'>{{cite news | title = 6 elephants killed by train in India's West Bengal state | date = 2013-11-14 | url = http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2013/11/14/6-elephants-killed-by-train-in-Indias-West-Bengal-state/UPI-25431384445835 | work = United Press International | access-date = 2013-11-15}}</ref> The train's speed at the time of the collision, which was double that of the maximum specified by relevant guidelines, has been noted as one possible contributing factor.<ref name='2013-11-14 UPI'/><ref name='FP 2013-11-14'>{{cite news | title = Overspeeding trains ran over elephants: Bengal minister | date = 2013-11-14 | publisher = [[First Post (India)|First Post]] | url = http://www.firstpost.com/india/overspeeding-trains-ran-over-elephants-bengal-minister-1230375.html | work = Press Trust of India | access-date = 2013-11-15}}</ref><ref name='Ghosh 2013-11-14'>{{cite news | first = Shubham | last = Ghosh | title = Train rams into elephant herd in North Bengal, 7 jumbos killed | date = 2013-11-14 | url = http://news.oneindia.in/kolkata/train-rams-into-elephant-herd-in-north-bengal-7-jumbos-killed-1341192.html | work = One India | access-date = 2013-11-15}}</ref> [[Ministry of Railways (India)|Minister of State for Railways]] [[Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury]] stated that the accident "happened outside the area which has been earmarked as elephant corridor" and that it "is the responsibility of the state government to protect the wildlife [because] railway officials cannot".<ref name='gulfnews 2013-11-14'>{{cite news | first = Archisman | last = Dinda | title = Blame game over elephant death in West Bengal | date = 2013-11-14 | publisher = [[Al Nisr Publishing]] | url = http://gulfnews.com/news/world/india/blame-game-over-elephant-death-in-west-bengal-1.1255200 | work = Gulf News | access-date = 2013-11-15}}</ref>

==Photo gallery==
<gallery>
File:Gaur chapramari.JPG|[[Gaur]]
File:Golden fronted leafbird.jpeg|[[Golden-fronted leafbird]]
File:Elephas maximus chapramari.jpg|[[Elephas maximus]]
</gallery>
==See Also==
* [[Neora Valley National Park]]
* [[Gorumara National Park]]
* [[Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
*[http://www.wbfdc.com/ West Bengal Forest Development Corporation Limited], the operator of Chapramari's camp
* {{Commons category-inline|Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary}}
* {{Wikivoyage-inline|Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary}}
{{Protected areas of West Bengal|state=expanded}}

[[Category:Wildlife sanctuaries in West Bengal]]
[[Category:Dooars]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Jalpaiguri district]]
[[Category:1998 establishments in West Bengal]]
[[Category:Protected areas established in 1988]]

Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary - Revision history

imported>BrownHairedGirl at 18:55, 26 May 2021