>BhagyaMani at 22:10, 17 July 2021

2021-07-17T22:10:59Z

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{{short description|tiger reserve in Mizoram, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox protected area
| name = Dampa Tiger Reserve
| iucn_category = II
| map = India Mizoram#India
| map_alt = Location of Dampa Tiger Reserve
| map_caption = Dampa Tiger Reserve
| map_width =
| photo = Dampa Tiger Reserve Forest.jpg
| photo_caption = Dampa Tiger Reserve Forest
| location = [[Mizoram]], [[India]]
| nearest_city = Aizawl
| coordinates = {{coords|23|34|N|92|22|E|region:IN|display=inline, title}}
| area = {{convert|50|km2|sqmi}}
| established = 1985
| visitation_num = NA
| visitation_year =
| governing_body = [[Ministry of Environment and Forests]], [[Government of India]]
}}
'''Dampa Tiger Reserve''' or '''Dampha Tiger Reserve''' is a [[tiger reserve]] of western [[Mizoram]], [[India]]. It covers an area of about {{convert|500|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} in the [[Lushai Hills]] at an altitude range of {{convert|800-1100|m|abbr=on}}. It was declared a tiger reserve in 1994 and is part of [[Project Tiger]].<ref name=Birand2004>{{cite journal |author1=Birand, A. |author2=Pawar, S. |year=2004 |title=An ornithological survey in north-east India |journal=Forktail |volume=20 |pages=15–24 |url=http://users.metu.edu.tr/birand/labpage/Publications_files/BirandandPawar2004.pdf}}</ref>

The tropical forests of Dampa Tiger Reserve are home to a diverse flora and fauna. It consists of forest interpolated with steep precipitous hills, deep valleys, jungle streams, ripping rivulets, natural salts licks. Dampa Tiger Reserve is not easily accessible unlike other park where you can ride on a four wheeler but one has to walk through the forest if one wishes to sight animals.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dampa: caught in the midst of all |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/576317/dampa-caught-midst-all.html |website=Deccan Herald |access-date=16 January 2019}}</ref>

In the tiger census of 2018, no tiger was found in this reserve.<ref name=TigerCensus2019>{{cite book |editor=[[Yadvendradev Vikramsinh Jhala|Jhala, Y. V.]] |editor2=Qureshi, Q. |editor3=Nayak, A. K. |year=2019 |title=Status of tigers, co-predators and prey in India 2018. Summary Report. TR No./2019/05 |publisher=National Tiger Conservation Authority & Wildlife Institute of India |location=New Delhi, Dehradun }}</ref> A tiger was spotted recently after seven years.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Bajaj|first=Simran|date=June 16, 2021|title=Spot the tiger: This image from Mizoram’s Dampa Tiger Reserve is going viral!|work=EastMojo|url=https://www.eastmojo.com/mizoram/2021/06/16/spot-the-tiger-this-image-from-mizorams-dampa-tiger-reserve-is-going-viral/|access-date=June 30, 2021}}</ref>

==Etymology==
The word Dampa means "lonely men" and refers to a local [[narrative]] about a village, where a lot of the women died.{{cn|date=August 2019}}

==History==
The protected area was initially established as wildlife sanctuary in 1985 with an area of about {{convert|680|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, which was reduced to about {{convert|340|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}. In 1994, it received the status of a [[Tiger reserves of India|Tiger Reserve]] with an area of {{convert|500|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} and thus became part of [[Project Tiger]].{{cn|date=January 2021}}

Jurisdiction is under two ranges, namely Teirei Range and Phuldungsei Range. Workers consist of a field director who is headquartered in W. Phaileng. There are also about five foresters and 10 regular forest guards.{{cn|date=August 2019}}

==Flora==
Rare floral species have been found in Dampa Tiger Reserve including rare ginger species ''Globba spathulata'' and ''Hemiorchis pantlingii''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dancing girl dims Dampa tiger |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/north-east/dancing-girl-dims-dampa-tiger/cid/1448045 |website=Telegraph India |access-date=16 January 2019}}</ref>

==Fauna==
=== Mammals ===
Dampa Tiger Reserve hosts [[Indian leopard]], [[sloth bear]], [[gaur]], [[serow]], [[barking deer]], [[wild boar]], [[hoolock gibbon]], [[Phayre's leaf monkey]], [[gray langur]], [[Rhesus macaque]] and [[slow loris]]. Four [[Bengal tiger]]s were recorded in 1994 but none were recorded in 2019.<ref name=TigerCensus2019/> Dampa Tiger Reserve has one of the highest [[clouded leopard]] populations in South and South East Asia.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Raman |first1=S. |title=In clouded leopard country |url=https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/In-clouded-leopard-country/article15429382.ece |website=The Hindu |access-date=16 January 2019}}</ref>

In 2012, tiger presence was confirmed through [[stool sample|Scat sample]]s.<ref>{{cite news|title=Big cat hope rises in Dampa reserve |date=2012 |url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120426/jsp/northeast/story_15417935.jsp#.UDHwfKO4KuI |access-date=20 August 2012 |newspaper=Telegraph India|location=Calcutta, India}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Tiger presence in Mizoram forest area confirmed |date=2012 | url=http://www.rediff.com/news/report/tiger-presence-in-mizoram-forest-area-confirmed/20120425.htm |publisher=rediff.com |access-date=2013-06-24}}</ref> No tiger was recorded in Dampa Tiger Reserve in the years 2018–2019.<ref name=Jhala2019>{{cite book |editor=[[Yadvendradev Vikramsinh Jhala|Jhala, Y. V.]] |editor2=Qureshi, Q. |editor3=Nayak, A. K. |year=2019 |title=Status of tigers, co-predators and prey in India 2018. Summary Report. TR No./2019/05 |publisher=National Tiger Conservation Authority & Wildlife Institute of India |location=New Delhi, Dehradun }}</ref> However, the [[National Tiger Conservation Authority]] recommended that tigers from Assam’s [[Kaziranga National Park]] be introduced to Dampa Tiger Reserve.<ref>{{cite web |title=Re-populating tiger reserves |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/re-populating-tiger-reserves/story-ZiwUtTuvtGO8dhZIMjgpHN.html |website=Hindustan Times |access-date=7 August 2019}}</ref>

=== Birds ===
Bird species sighted in Dampa Tiger Reserve include [[great hornbill]], [[wreathed hornbill]], [[oriental pied hornbill]], [[scarlet-backed flowerpecker]], [[Kalij pheasant]], [[grey peacock-pheasant]], [[speckled piculet]] and [[white-browed piculet]], bay woodpecker, [[greater yellownape]], [[greater flameback]], [[great barbet]], [[blue-throated barbet]], [[red-headed trogon]], [[Indian cuckoo]], [[Asian barred owlet]], [[green imperial pigeon]], [[mountain imperial pigeon]], [[emerald dove]], [[crested serpent eagle]], [[Malayan night heron]], [[long-tailed broadbill]], [[Asian fairy bluebird]], [[blue-winged leafbird]], [[golden-fronted leafbird]], [[orange-bellied leafbird]], [[scarlet minivet]], [[maroon oriole]], [[greater racket-tailed drongo]], [[Indian paradise-flycatcher]], [[pale-chinned blue flycatcher]], [[blue-throated flycatcher]], [[black-naped monarch]], [[grey-headed canary flycatcher]], [[white-rumped shama]], [[slaty-backed forktail]], [[spotted forktail]], [[chestnut-bellied nuthatch]], [[velvet-fronted nuthatch]], [[black bulbul]], [[black-crested bulbul]], [[ashy bulbul]], [[white-throated bulbul]], [[slaty-bellied tesia]] and [[striated yuhina]].<ref name=Birand2004/>

==Threat==
It has been reported that there has been an increase in built up (590%), bamboo forest (192.89%) and scrub (74.67%) areas. These increases are simultaneously accompanied by decrease in cover area of evergreen/semi evergreen closed forests from 152.47 km<sup>2</sup> in 1978 to 95.27 km<sup>2</sup> in 2005. This could be due to the practice of [[shifting cultivation]] by villagers at the border of the reserve.<ref>{{cite journal|vauthors=Devi HS, ((Hmingthanpuii)), Sarma KK| title=Change in vegetation cover of Dampa Tiger Reserve, Mizoram, North East India: A serious threat to tiger population |journal=Journal of Experimental Sciences |year=2011|volume=2|issue=9|pages=1–6|url=http://jexpsciences.com/index.php/jexp/article/view/8432|access-date=25 June 2013}}</ref> A 62-km fence and patrol road along the Bangladesh boundary near the reserve in Mizoram is hindering the free movement of Tigers at Dampa.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tiger number dips at Dampa |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/north-east/tiger-number-dips-at-dampa/cid/336288 |website=Telegraph India |access-date=16 January 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Nod to border fence near tiger reserve|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110511/jsp/northeast/story_13955790.jsp|access-date=20 August 2012|newspaper=Telegraph India|location=Calcutta, India|first=Roopak|last=Goswami|date=11 May 2011}}</ref> Oil palm and Teak plantations which occupy areas close to the Dampa Tiger Reserve are also reducing habitat of birds and animals and could pose a bigger threat to wildlife than shifting cultivation.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mizoram's push for oil palm plantations might end up hurting the diversity it wants to save |url=https://scroll.in/article/806788/mizorams-push-for-oil-palm-plantations-might-end-up-hurting-the-diversity-it-wants-to-save |website=Scroll |access-date=16 January 2019}}</ref> There have also been reported cases of poaching by different groups including local hunters and insurgent groups like [[Shanti Bahini]] and the [[National Liberation Front of Tripura]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Banerjee |first1=A. |title=Life in an anti-poaching camp |url=https://www.livemint.com/Leisure/rSFN4TDm98utN4rmbqPhsM/Life-in-an-antipoaching-camp.html |website=Livemint |access-date=16 January 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Rajshekhar |first1=M. |title=In a tiger reserve in Mizoram, camera traps are taking pictures of gunmen |url=https://scroll.in/article/713794/in-a-tiger-reserve-in-mizoram-camera-traps-are-taking-pictures-of-gunmen |website=Scroll |access-date=16 January 2019}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of Protected areas in India]]
* [[Protected areas of India]]
* [[National parks of India]]
* [[Tourism in Mizoram]]
* [[Reserved forests and protected forests of India]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External Links ==
* [http://www.thejunglelook.com/info/trip-reports/mizoram-dec06/dampa?DokuWiki=e073ac0014343293674cb4a283ad81cc/travel Report of Dampa]
*''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jILkaiSe_I Through Zakhuma’s Lens - Dampa Tiger Reserve]'' by [https://www.greenhubindia.net/ Green Hub] on [[YouTube]]
* {{cite journal | author = Raman T. R. S. | author2 = Rawat G. S. | author3 = Johnsingh A. J. T. | year = 1998 | title = Recovery of tropical rainforest avifauna in relation to vegetation succession following shifting cultivation in Mizoram, northeast India | journal = Journal of Applied Ecology | volume = 35 | issue = 2| pages = 214–231 | doi=10.1046/j.1365-2664.1998.00297.x| doi-access = free }}

{{Mizoram}}
{{Tiger Reserves Of India}}
{{National Parks of India}}
[[Category:Tiger reserves of India]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Mizoram]]
[[Category:1985 establishments in Mizoram]]
[[Category:Protected areas established in 1985]]

Dampa Tiger Reserve - Revision history

>BhagyaMani at 22:10, 17 July 2021