->BrownHairedGirl at 22:17, 26 May 2021

2021-05-26T22:17:49Z

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{{update|date=March 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2018}}
'''Kazinag National Park''' or '''Qazinag National Park''' is a commissioned future [[National Parks of India|national park]] in the [[Baramulla district]] in the Indian union territory of [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]]. It is part of a proposal for a trans-[[Karakoram]] [[peace park]] with [[Pakistan]].

==History==
Following the [[ceasefire]] after the [[Kargil War]], and based on mounting pressure to conserve the rare [[markhor]] wild goat, the [[Government of India]], based on the [[Wildlife Trust of India]], commissioned a new national park near [[Uri (India)|Uri]] close to the [[Line of Control]], the international jurisdiction boundary with Pakistan.<ref>[http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080309/jsp/nation/story_8998294.jsp LoC home for vanishing goats, The Telegraph, 9 March 2008]</ref>
It was created after the Kargil War and based on the increasing pressure to protect the endangered and rare markhor wild goat. After a recommendation of the Wildlife Trust of India, the Indian Government commissioned a new wildlife national park near the Line of Control in Uri, which is the international jurisdiction boundary with Pakistan.
This national park is being set up by the Jammu Kashmir Government and is the fourth in the state with an aim to conserve the rare species of goats and other species like brown bear, musk deer and leopards. This park was decided to be made out of the Limber and Lachipora wildlife sanctuaries and the Nagnari conservation reserve.

==Climate==
Kazinag is a temperate system, with warm summers and cold winters, and a temperature range of -20 to +30 °C. Precipitation is mainly in the form of snow in winter and rains in early spring with occasional showers during summer. There are four distinct seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter.

==Vegetation==
Vegetation in Kazinag is dominated by coniferous forests with deodar (''[[Cedrus deodara]]'') at lower altitudes, fir (''[[Abies pindrow]]''), spruce (''[[Picea smithiana]]'') at middle to upper elevations and kail (''[[Pinus wallichiana]]'') is widely distributed from lower to upper elevations. Birch (''[[Betula utilis]]'') occur mainly in the subalpine zone whereas the other broad leaved forests including ''[[Prunus]]'' and ''[[Maple|Acer]]'' which occur in middle elevations and the horse chestnut (''[[Aesculus indica]]'') strands are distributed in lower elevations mainly along streams. The temperate scrub occurs at middle and lower elevations and is dominated by ''[[Indigofera]]'', ''[[Spirea]]'' and ''[[Rose|Rosa]]''. The sub-alpine and alpine scrub occurs at higher elevations and is dominated by ''[[Juniperus]]'', ''[[Lonicera]]'' and ''[[Salix]]''. Alpine meadows occupy the highest elevations. Other shrub species include ''[[Rosa macrofolia]]'' and ''[[Viburnum grandiflorum]]'' that are dominant along nallas{{Clarify|date=June 2017|reason=What does 'nalla' mean in this context?}} in lower elevations.

==Mammals==
Around 20 species of mammals, including some which are rare, threatened or endangered are found in within Kazinag National park. Key animal species sighted are [[markhor]], [[Himalayan musk deer]], [[Himalayan brown bear]], [[Himalayan black bear]], [[Indian leopard]], [[Himalayan marmot]], [[yellow-throated marten]], and [[Kashmir flying squirrel]].<ref name=JKW>{{cite web | url=http://www.jkwildlife.com/Files/discover/kazinag.asp | title=Kazinag National Park | publisher=Jammu and Kashmir Wildlife Protection Department | accessdate=7 March 2018 }}</ref>

==Birds==
The Kazinag National Park is home to about 120 species of birds including the golden eagle (''[[Aquila chrysaetos]]''), Impeyan or monal pheasant (''[[Lophophorus impejanus]]''), cheer pheasant (''[[Catreus wallichii]]''), sparrow hawk (''[[Eurasian sparrowhawk|Accipiter nisus melaschistos]]''), snow pigeon (''[[Columba leuconota]]''), cuckoo (''[[Cuculus canorus]]''), Himalayan pied kingfisher (''[[Ceryle lugubris]]''), lesser pied kingfisher (''[[Ceryle rudis]]''), nutcracker (''[[Nucifraga caryocatactes]]''), jackdaw (''[[Corvus monedula]]''), long tailed minivet (''[[Pericrocotus flammeus]]''), sooty flycatcher (''[[Muscicapa infuscata]]''), Kashmir red breasted flycatcher (''[[Ficedula subrubra]]'') and yellow throated martin (''[[Martes flavigula]]'').<ref name=JKW />

==Butterflies==
The park is home to 17 species of butterflies which include regal Apollo (''[[Parnassius charltonius]]''), common blue Apollo (''[[Parnassius hardwickii]]''), common red Apollo (''[[Parnassius epaphus]]''), brown argus (''[[Ypthima hyagriva]]''), meadow brown (''[[Hyponephele pulchra]]''), narrow-banded satyr (''[[Aulocera brahminus]]'') and large tortoiseshell (''[[Nymphalis xanthomelas]]'').<ref name=JKW />

==Topography==
It is located at 1800 to 4700 metres above sea level and the terrain is rugged.

==Kazinag Mountain==
Kajinag Mountain, located in Langate Tehsil of Kupwara District, forms the line of control between India and Pakistan.

This splendid mountain, measuring 4732 m tall, remains snow clad most of the years. The main attraction is the Kajinag Spring and Kazinag Glacier
It usually remains snow clad most of the year. On the top of it stands the historical Kajinag spring and Satkohl Nag which have been providing water to Kehmil, Puhru, Mawar and Talar rivers of the district and some of the water goes to Pakistan through Nowkote.

==Best time to visit==
This park has a temperature range of -20 to +30 degrees Celsius. Precipitation is in the form of snow in the winter, occasional showers during the summer and rains in the start of spring. The best time to visit for [[birdwatching]] is from May to September and those who wish to spot mammals should be there from April to May. The time period from June to August is also considered perfect to visit the location.

==References==
{{reflist}}

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[[Category:National parks in Jammu and Kashmir]]
[[Category:Proposed protected areas]]
[[Category:Baramulla district]]

Kazinag National Park - Revision history

->BrownHairedGirl at 22:17, 26 May 2021