->Qwerfjkl (bot) at 16:51, 29 September 2021

2021-09-29T16:51:03Z

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{{Use Indian English|date=April 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2014}}
[[File:Railway penetrating the Park.jpg|thumb|Diesel locomotive of [[Indian Railways]] going through Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary near [[Sevoke]]]]
{{Infobox protected area
| name = '''Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary'''
| alt_name =
| iucn_category =
| photo =
| photo_alt =
| photo_caption =
| photo_width =
| map = India West Bengal
| map_alt =
| map_caption = Location in West Bengal, India
| map_width =
| location = [[Darjeeling district|Darjeeling]], [[West Bengal]], India
| nearest_city = [[Siliguri]]
| coordinates = {{coord|26.481|N|88.264|E|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| coords_ref =
| area_km2 = 158
| established = 1976
| visitation_num =
| visitation_year =
| governing_body = [[Government of India]], [[Government of West Bengal]]
| world_heritage_site =
| url =
}}
'''Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary''' (Pron: móhɑ́nɑ́ndaa) is located on the foothills of the [[Himalaya]]s, between the [[Teesta River|Teesta]] and [[Mahananda River|Mahananda]] rivers. Situated in the [[Darjeeling district]] of [[West Bengal]], [[India]]; it comes under Darjeeling Wildlife division and can be reached from [[Siliguri]] in 30 minutes. Sukna, the gateway to the sanctuary, is only 13 km from Siliguri and 28 km from [[Bagdogra]] airport. The sanctuary sprawls over 159 km2 of reserve forest and was started as a game sanctuary in 1955. In 1959, it got the status of a sanctuary mainly to protect the [[Gaur|Indian bison]] and [[royal Bengal tiger]], which were facing the threat of extinction.<ref>[http://www.westbengalforest.gov.in/ WBFD], West Bengal Forest Department.</ref>

==Geography==
{{OSM Location map
| width=380| height=320| zoom=10
| coord={{coord|26|54|0|N|88|17|0|E}}| float=left|caption='''Places and tea estates in the southern portion of Darjeeling Sadar subdivision (including Jorebunglow Sukhiapokhri CD block), Kurseong subdivision and Mirik Subdivision in Darjeeling district''' CT: census town, R: rural/ urban centre, NP: national park/ wildlife sanctuary, TE: tea estate Abbreviations used in names – TG for Tea Garden (town/village), TE for Tea Estate Owing to space constraints in the small map, the actual locations in a larger map may vary slightly
|mark-coord1={{coord|26|56|59|N|88|14|17|E}}| label-pos1=right|label1= Rongmook Ceder TG| numbered1=CT| mark-title1= [[Rongmook Ceder Tea Garden]] (CT)|label-color1= #800000 |label-size1=11| mark-size1=12|shape1=l-circle|shape-color1= #A40000|shape-outline1=white|label-offset-x1=2
|mark-coord2={{coord|26|55|55|N|88|10|40|E}}| label-pos2=left|label2=Mangarjung TG| numbered2=CT| mark-title2= [[Mangarjung Tea Garden (Nagri)]] (CT)
|mark-coord3={{coord|26|57|43|N|88|17|10|E}}| label-pos3=right|label3=Sonada| numbered3=CT| mark-title3= [[Sonada]] (CT)
|mark-coord4={{coord|27|0|20|N|88|10|1|E}}| label-pos4=left|label4=Sukhiapokhri| numbered4=CT| mark-title4= [[Sukhiapokhri]] (CT)
|mark-coord5={{coord|26|50|0|N|88|20|0|E}}| label-pos5=right|label5=Cart Road| numbered5=CT| mark-title5= [[Cart Road]] (CT)
|mark-coord6={{coord|26|53|5|N|88|17|10|E}}| label-pos6=right |label6=Kurseong| numbered6=M| mark-title6= [[Kurseong]] (M)| shape-color6=#800000
|mark-coord7={{coord|26|52|40|N|88|10|10|E}}| label-pos7=left |label7=Mirik| numbered7=M| mark-title7= [[Mirik]] (M)| shape-color7=#800000
|mark-coord8={{coord|26|57|20|N|88|9|20|E}}| label-pos8=left|label8=Chamong TG| numbered8=R| mark-title8= [[Chamong Tea Garden]] (R)| shape-color8=#C42222
|mark-coord9={{coord|26|55|35|N|88|11|40|E}}| label-pos9=right|label9=Dhajea TG| numbered9=R| mark-title9= [[Dhajea Tea Garden]] (R)| shape-color9=#C42222
|mark-coord10={{coord|27|0|55|N|88|15|30|E}}| label-pos10=right|label10=Jorebungalow| numbered10=R| mark-title10= [[Jorebungalow]] (R)| shape-color10=#C42222
|mark-coord11={{coord|26|57|40|N|88|10|0|E}}| label-pos11=right|label11=Pokhriabong| numbered11=R| mark-title11= [[Pokhriabong]] (R)| shape-color11=#C42222
|mark-coord12={{coord|27|0|10|N|88|11|39|E}}| label-pos12=right|label12=Poobong TG| numbered12=R| mark-title12= [[Poobong Tea Garden]] (R)| shape-color12=#C42222
|mark-coord13={{coord|26|56|36|N|88|10|34|E}}| label-pos13=left|label13=Sungma TG| numbered13=R| mark-title13= [[Sungma Tea Garden]] (R)| shape-color13=#C42222
|mark-coord14={{coord|27|2|10|N|88|10|31|E}}| label-pos14=left|label14=Tumsong TG| numbered14=R| mark-title14= [[Tumsong Tea Garden]] (R)| shape-color14=#C42222
|mark-coord15={{coord|26|54|40|N|88|12|10|E}}| label-pos15=right|label15=Nagri Farm TG| numbered15=R| mark-title15= [[Nagri Farm Tea Garden]] (R)| shape-color15=#C42222
|mark-coord16={{coord|26|52|55|N|88|15|50|E}}| label-pos16=left|label16=Ambootia| numbered16=R| mark-title16= [[Ambootia]] (R)| shape-color16=#C42222
|mark-coord17={{coord|26|48|45|N|88|15|38|E}}| label-pos17=right|label17=Longview TG| numbered17=R| mark-title17= [[Longview Tea Garden]] (R)| shape-color17=#C42222
|mark-coord18={{coord|26|57|57|N|88|22|20|E}}| label-pos18=right|label18=Mangpu| numbered18=R| mark-title18= [[Mangpu]] (R)| shape-color18=#C42222
|mark-coord19={{coord|26|53|50|N|88|16|40|E}}| label-pos19=left|label19=Monteviot TG| numbered19=R| mark-title19= [[Monteviot Tea Garden]] (R)| shape-color19=#C42222
|mark-coord20={{coord|26|49|35|N|88|17|22|E}}| label-pos20=left|label20=Rohini TG| numbered20=R| mark-title20= [[Rohini Tea Garden]] (R)| shape-color20=#C42222
|mark-coord21={{coord|26|46|20|N|88|21|35|E}}| label-pos21=left|label21=Sukna| numbered21=R| mark-title21= [[Sukna, Darjeeling]] (R)| shape-color21=#C42222
|mark-coord22={{coord|26|50|45|N|88|20|5|E}}| label-pos22=right|label22=Tindharia| numbered22=R| mark-title22= [[Tindharia]] (R)| shape-color22=#C42222
|mark-coord23={{coord|26|52|15|N|88|17|55|E}}| label-pos23=right|label23=Giddapahar| numbered23=R| mark-title23= [[Giddapahar]] (R)| shape-color23=#C42222
|mark-coord24={{coord|26|47|47|N|88|18|30|E}}| label-pos24=left|label24=Simulbari TG| numbered24=R| mark-title24= [[Simulbari Tea Garden]] (R)| shape-color24=#C42222
|mark-coord25={{coord|26|56|11|N|88|28|2|E}}| label-pos25=right|label25=Sittong| numbered25=R| mark-title25= [[Sittong]] (R)| shape-color25=#C42222
|mark-coord26={{coord|26|47|0|N|88|14|25|E}}| label-pos26=right|label26=Panighatta| numbered26=R| mark-title26= [[Panighatta]] (R)| shape-color26=#C42222
|mark-coord27={{coord|26|50|20|N|88|13|5|E}}| label-pos27=right|label27=Singbulli TG| numbered27=R| mark-title27= [[Singbulli Tea Garden]] (R)| shape-color27=#C42222
|mark-coord28={{coord|26|52|15|N|88|12|40|E}}| label-pos28=right|label28=Soureni| numbered28=R| mark-title28= [[Soureni]] (R)| shape-color28=#C42222
|mark-coord29={{coord|26|56|19|N|88|12|38|E}}| label-pos29=right|label29=Avongrove TE| numbered29=TE| mark-title29= [[Avongrove Tea Estate]] (TE)| shape-color29=#87A96B
|mark-coord30={{coord|26|51|40|N|88|14|8|E}}| label-pos30=left|label30=Balasun TE| numbered30=TE| mark-title30= [[Balasun Tea Estate]] (TE)| shape-color30=#87A96B
|mark-coord31={{coord|26|51|35|N|88|16|50|E}}| label-pos31=right|label31=Castleton TE| numbered31=TE| mark-title31= [[Castleton Tea Estate]] (TE)| shape-color31=#87A96B
|mark-coord32={{coord|26|55|10|N|88|9|44|E}}| label-pos32=left|label32=Gopaldhara TE| numbered32=TE| mark-title32= [[Gopaldhara Tea Estate]] (TE)| shape-color32=#87A96B
|mark-coord33={{coord|26|53|35|N|88|20|0|E}}| label-pos33=right|label33=Goomtee TE| numbered33=TE| mark-title33= [[Goomtee Tea Estate]] (TE)| shape-color33=#87A96B
|mark-coord34={{coord|26|54|35|N|88|20|20|E}}| label-pos34=right|label34=Jungpana TE| numbered34=TE| mark-title34= [[Jungpana Tea Estate]] (TE)| shape-color34=#87A96B
|mark-coord35={{coord|26|51|0|N|88|16|3|E}}| label-pos35=left|label35=Makaibari TE| numbered35=TE| mark-title35= [[Makaibari Tea Estate]] (TE)| shape-color35=#87A96B
|mark-coord36={{coord|26|55|24|N|88|17|50|E}}| label-pos36=right|label36=Margaret’s Hope TE| numbered36=TE| mark-title36= [[Margaret's Hope Tea Estate]] (TE)| shape-color36=#87A96B
|mark-coord37={{coord|26|54|20|N|88|9|20|E}}| label-pos37=left|label37=Okayti TE| numbered37=TE| mark-title37= [[Okayti Tea Estate]] (TE)| shape-color37=#87A96B
|mark-coord38={{coord|26|50|15|N|88|12|9|E}}| label-pos38=left|label38=Phuguri TE| numbered38=TE| mark-title38= [[Phuguri Tea Estate]] (TE)| shape-color38=#87A96B
|mark-coord39={{coord|26|59|14|N|88|13|22|E}}| label-pos39=right|label39=Pussimbing TE| numbered39=TE| mark-title39= [[Pussimbing Tea Estate]] (TE)| shape-color39=#87A96B
|mark-coord40={{coord|26|53|40|N|88|9|50|E}}| label-pos40=left|label40=Thurbo TE| numbered40=TE| mark-title40= [[Thurbo Tea Estate]] (TE)| shape-color40=#87A96B
|mark-coord41={{coord|26|52|25|N|88|26|20|E}}| label-pos41=bottom|label41=Mahananda |labela41= Wildlife| labelb41= Sanctuary| numbered41=NP| mark-title41= Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary (NP)| shape-color41=black| label-size41=13|label-color41=black 
|mark-coord42={{coord|27|1|5|N|88|25|0|E}}|label42=Teesta|labela42= River| label-color42 = #77A1CB| label-angle42=75| label-pos42=top| label-size42=10| mark-size42=0| mark-title42 =none
|mark-coord43={{coord|26|47|0|N|88|23|30|E}}|label43=Mahananda|labela43= River| label-color43 = #77A1CB| label-angle43=45| label-pos43=top| label-size43=10| mark-size43=0| mark-title43 =none
|mark-coord44={{coord|26|45|0|N|88|17|0|E}}|label44= Balason River| label-color44 = #77A1CB| label-angle44=35| label-pos44=top| label-size44=10| mark-size44=0| mark-title44 =none
|mark-coord45={{coord|26|46|30|N|88|11|0|E}}|label45= Mechi| label-color45 = #77A1CB| label-angle45=70| label-pos45=top| label-size45=10| mark-size45=0| mark-title45 =none
|mark-coord46={{coord|26|44|30|N|88|11|20|E}}|label46= River| label-color46 = #77A1CB| label-angle46=95| label-pos46=top| label-size46=10| mark-size46=0| mark-title46 =none
|mark-coord47={{coord|26|53|49|N|88|28|22|E}}| label-pos47=right|label47=Sevoke| numbered47=R| mark-title47= [[Sevoke]] (R)| shape-color47=#C42222
|arc-coordA={{coord|26|48|0|N|88|6|0|E}}|arc-textA= NEPAL| arc-text-colorA=hard grey| arc-angleA=40| arc-gapA=3.5| arc-radiusA=0.4}}

{{unreferenced section|date=April 2017}}
The forest type in Mahananda WLS varies from riverain forests like Khayer-Sisoo to dense mixed-wet forest in the higher elevation in Latpanchar area of [[Kurseong]] hills. The variation in altitude and forest types helps the existence of a large number of species of [[mammals]], birds and [[reptiles]]. Varying altitude from 500 ft at the southern range of [[Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary|Sukna forest]] to the elevation up to 4,500 ft at Latkothi beat office covers varied vegetation and is home to superb [[biome]] restricted species. Latpanchar actually forms the highest part of the Sanctuary, with an average altitude of 4200 ft.

Note: The map alongside presents some of the notable locations in the subdivision. All places marked in the map are linked in the larger full screen map.

==Biodiversity==
Avian fauna listed from this park are of A1, A2 and A3 categories with IBA site code IN-WB-07.<ref>[http://ibcn.in/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/West-Bengal.pdf], West Bengal IBA categories Page-2.</ref>

==Natural history==

===Biomes===
Inside this wildlife sanctuary, the primary [[biomes]] corresponding to the [[ecoregions]] are:
* Sino-Himalayan Temperate Forest of the [[Eastern Himalayan broadleaf forests]] Biome 7
* Sino-Himalayan Subtropical Forest of the [[Himalayan subtropical broadleaf forests]] Biome 8
* Indo-Chinese Tropical Moist Forest of the [[Himalayan subtropical pine forests]] Biome 9

All of these are typical forest type of foothills of the [[Bhutan]] - [[Nepal]] - [[India]] hilly region between altitudinal range 500 ft to 4,500 ft.

===Fauna===
'''Birds''' at Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary includes some very endangered species like [[Rufous-necked Hornbill]], [[Oriental Pied Hornbill]], [[Great Hornbill]] etc. Among the others [[swallow]], [[Swift (bird)|swift]], [[thrush (bird)|thrush]], [[old world babbler|babbler]], [[warbler]], [[Coraciidae|roller]], [[minivet]] and [[sunbird]] can be found in abundance.

<gallery mode="packed-hover" heights="200">
File:Rufous-necked Hornbill Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary West Bengal India 06.12.2015.jpg|[[Rufous-necked Hornbill]] (''Aceros nipalensis'')
File:Nepal Fulvetta Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary West Bengal India 01.11.2015.jpg|[[Nepal Fulvetta]] (''Alcippe nipalensis'')
File:Rufous-necked Laughingthrush Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary West Bengal India 06.11.2015.jpg|[[Rufous-necked Laughingthrush]] (''Garrulax ruficollis'')
File:Emerald Cuckoo Mahananda WLS West Bengal India 02.11.2015.jpg|[[Asian Emerald Cuckoo]] (''Chrysococcyx maculatus'')
</gallery>

Some exotic species of '''mammals''' are reported from this area like [[Himalayan serow]], [[Himalayan porcupine]], [[Himalayan Black Bear]] and even more rarer like [[Binturong]] and [[Clouded Leopard]]. Other important mammalian species include [[Indian elephants]], [[Gaur|Indian bison]], [[chital]] (spotted deer), [[barking deer]], [[Sambar (deer)|sambar]], [[rhesus monkey]], many species of lesser cat like [[fishing cat]] and [[jungle cat]], [[leopard]] etc.

==See Also==
* [[Neora Valley National Park]]
* [[Gorumara National Park]]
* [[Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary]]
* [[Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary]]
* [[Kyongnosla Alpine Sanctuary]]

==References==
{{Commons category|Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary}}
{{reflist}}

== External links ==

* [https://siliguritourism.in/mahananda-wildlife-sanctuary/ Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary Attractions]
{{Protected areas of West Bengal}}

[[Category:Wildlife sanctuaries in West Bengal]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Darjeeling district]]
[[Category:Protected areas established in 1976]]
[[Category:Dooars]]
[[Category:1976 establishments in West Bengal]]

Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary - Revision history

->Qwerfjkl (bot) at 16:51, 29 September 2021