Hkakaborazi National Park

Hkakaborazi National Park
Burmese: ခါကာဘိုရာဇီအမျိုးသားဥယျာဉ်
Map showing the location of Hkakaborazi National Park
Map showing the location of Hkakaborazi National Park
Hkakaborazi National Park
Location in Myanmar
LocationNogmung Township, Kachin State  Myanmar
Nearest cityPutao
Coordinates28°08′06″N 97°52′12″E / 28.135°N 97.870°E / 28.135; 97.870
Area1,472 sq mi (3,810 km2)[1]
Established1998[1]
Governing bodyMinistry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation

Hkakaborazi National Park is a national park in northern Myanmar with an area of 1,472 sq mi (3,810 km2). It was established in 1998.[1] It surrounds Hkakabo Razi, the highest mountain in the country.[2]

It ranges in elevation from 2,950 to 18,730 ft (900 to 5,710 m) comprising evergreen forest and mixed deciduous forests in Nogmung Township, Kachin State. It is managed by the Nature and Wildlife Conservation Division.[3] It is contiguous with Bumhpa Bum Wildlife Sanctuary and Hukaung Valley Wildlife Sanctuary. These protected areas together with Hponkanrazi Wildlife Sanctuary comprise the largest continuous expanse of natural forest called the Northern Forest Complex stretching over an area of 11,624 sq mi (30,110 km2). Its objective is to conserve the biodiversity of the Ayeyarwady and Chindwin river basins.[4]

Biodiversity

Flora

The vegetation in Hkakaborazi National Park comprises tropical rain forest, laurel forest and coniferous forest. Shrubs growing in riverine areas include Rhododendron simsii, Homonoia riparia, Ficus, Phyllanthus, Ligustrum, Camellia and Euonymus species. Flowering trees like Wightia gigantea, Dipterocarpus alatus, Elaeocarpus, Nephelium, Bauhinia, Schima, Fagraea, Aeschynanthus and Magnoliaceae grow at elevations of about 3,000 ft (910 m). Altingia excelsa, Terminalia myriocarpa, Selaginella, Lysimachia, Impatiens and at least six Begonia species are among the flowering plants growing at elevations of about 5,000 ft (1,500 m). Albizia, Alnus, Ficus, Saurauia, Callicarpa arborea grow in selectively logged areas. Diverse bamboo species grow in all forest zones up to 12,000 ft (3,700 m). Alpine vegetation includes plum-flowered rhododendron (Rhododendron pruniflorum), Rhododendron selense, Primula sikkimensis, Gentiana sino-ornata and Saussurea gossypiphora.[2]

Seventeen orchid species were recorded during expeditions in 1996 and 1997, including black orchid (Paphiopedilum wardii), ivory-colored cymbidium (Cymbidium eburneum), aloe-leafed cymbidium (Cymbidium aloifolium), Aerides falcata, Arundina graminifolia, Bulbophyllum odoratissimum, Dendrobium hercoglossum, charming dendrobium (Dendrobium pulchellum), pinecone-like raceme dendrobium (Dendrobium thyrsiflorum) and Phaius tankervilleae.[5]

Mammals

During expeditions in 1996 and 1997, a new muntjac species, the leaf muntjac (Muntiacus putaoensis), was discovered in lowland forest of Hkakaborazi Protected Area. Local hunters reported blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur), red serow (Capricornis rubidus) and takin (Budorcas taxicolor) to occur in the foothills of Hkakabo Razi mountain. Red goral (Naemorhedus baileyi) was sighted.[6] During surveys between May 2002 and May 2003, Indian muntjac (Muntiacus muntjac), leaf muntjac, wild boar (Sus scrofa), mainland serow (Capricornis milneedwardsii), stump-tailed macaque (Macaca arctoides), rhesus macaque (M. mulatta), capped langur (Trachypithecus pileatus), western hoolock gibbon (Hoolock hoolock), Malayan porcupine (Hystrix brachyura), brush-tailed porcupine (Atherurus macrourus), Asiatic golden cat (Catopuma temminkii), sun bear (Helarctos malayanus), dhole (Cuon alpinus), binturong (Arctictis binturong), masked palm civet (Paguma larvata), hog badger (Arctonyx collaris) and orange-bellied Himalayan squirrel (Dremomys lokriah) were recorded.[7]

Wildlife recorded during camera trapping surveys in 2003 and 2004 comprised yellow-throated marten (Martes flavigula), spotted linsang (Prionodon pardicolor), Chinese ferret-badger (Melogale moschata), clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), marbled cat (Pardofelis marmorata) and leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis).[8][9]

Birds

Among the 160 bird species sighted during a survey in spring 1997 were crested serpent eagle (Spilornis cheela), Indian paradise flycatcher (Terpsiphone paradisi), Kalij pheasant (Lophura leucomelanos), Himalayan monal (Lophophorus impejanus), rufous-necked hornbill (Aceros nipalensis), great hornbill (Buceros bicornis), wreathed hornbill (Rhyticeros undulatus), Oriental pied hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris), great barbet (Psilopogon virens), golden-throated barbet (P. franklinii), blue-throated barbet (P. asiaticus), ibisbill (Ibidorhyncha struthersii), rosy minivet (Pericrocotus roseus), scarlet minivet (P. speciosus), red-whiskered bulbul (Pycnonotus jocosus), common emerald dove (Chalcophaps indica), rufous treepie (Dendrocitta vagabunda), red-headed trogon (Harpactes erythrocephalus), maroon oriole (Oriolus traillii), Asian fairy-bluebird (Irena puella), golden babbler (Cyanoderma chrysaea), rusty-naped pitta (Hydrornis oatesi) and purple sunbird (Cinnyris asiaticus).[10] In 2005, the Naung Mung scimitar babbler (Jabouilleia naungmungensis) was described based on three zoological specimens collected southwest of Hkakaborazi National Park in disturbed primary forest at an elevation of 1,770 ft (540 m).[11]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c World Database on Protected Areas (2019). "Hkakaborazi National Park". Protected Planet United Nations Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre. Archived from the original on 2020-11-01. Retrieved 2019-12-01.
  2. ^ a b Khin, M.; Aung, S. (2002). "Vegetation and key floristic features of the Hkakabo Razi National Park" (PDF). In Guangwei, C. (ed.). Biodiversity in the Eastern Himalayas: Conservation through Dialogue. Kathmandu, Nepal: International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development. pp. 55–79. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2019-12-09. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
  3. ^ Beffasti, L.; Gallanti, V., eds. (2011). Myanmar Protected Areas: Context, Current Status and Challenges (PDF). Milano, Yangon: Istituto Oikos, Biodiversity and Nature Conservation Association. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2019-12-03. Retrieved 2019-12-08.
  4. ^ Lazarus, K. M.; Cardinale, P.; Corbett, M.; Lin, N. S.; Noeske, T. K. H. (2017). "Strategic Environmental Assessment of the Hydropower Sector in Myanmar" (PDF). Baseline Assessment Report Terrestrial Biodiversity. Washington, DC: International Finance Corporation. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2020-10-27. Retrieved 2019-11-30.
  5. ^ Lwin, S. (2002). "An Introduction to Native Orchids of Myanmar in the Hkakaborazi Area" (PDF). In Guangwei, C. (ed.). Biodiversity in the Eastern Himalayas: Conservation through Dialogue. Kathmandu, Nepal: International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development. pp. 80–89. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2024-04-07. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
  6. ^ Rabinowitz, A.; Khaing, S. T. (1998). "Status of selected mammal species in North Myanmar" (PDF). Oryx. 32 (3): 201–208. doi:10.1046/j.1365-3008.1998.d01-37.x. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2023-08-01. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
  7. ^ Rao, M.; Myint, T.; Zaw, T.; Htun, S. (2005). "Hunting patterns in tropical forests adjoining the Hkakaborazi National Park, north Myanmar". Oryx. 39 (3): 292–300. doi:10.1017/S0030605305000724.
  8. ^ Than Zaw; Saw Htun; Saw Htoo Tha Po; Myint Maung; Lynam, A. J.; Kyaw Thinn Latt; Duckworth, J. W. (2008). "Status and distribution of small carnivores in Myanmar". Small Carnivore Conservation. 38: 2–28. Archived from the original on 2024-04-07. Retrieved 2020-10-12.
  9. ^ Than Zaw; Than Myint; Saw Htun; Saw Htoo Tha Po; Kyaw Thinn Latt; Myint Maung; Lynam A. J. (2014). "Status and distribution of smaller felids in Myanmar" (PDF). Cat News (Special Issue 8): 24–30. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2019-12-05. Retrieved 2019-12-08.
  10. ^ Aung, U. T.; Oo, U. Z. (2002). "Birds Recently Sighted in Hkakaborazi Region, Northern Myanmar" (PDF). In Guangwei, C. (ed.). Biodiversity in the Eastern Himalayas: Conservation through Dialogue. Kathmandu, Nepal: International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development. pp. 106–116. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2019-12-10. Retrieved 2019-12-10.
  11. ^ Rappole, J. H.; Renner, S. C.; Shwe, N. M.; Sweet, P. R. (2005). "A New Species of Scimitar-Babbler (Timalidae: Jabouilleia) From the Sub-Himalayan Region of Myanmar". The Auk. 122 (4): 1064–1069. doi:10.1093/auk/122.4.1064.