Kyaikhtiyo Wildlife Sanctuary

Kyaikhtiyo Wildlife Sanctuary
Map showing the location of Kyaikhtiyo Wildlife Sanctuary
Map showing the location of Kyaikhtiyo Wildlife Sanctuary
Location in Myanmar
LocationKyaikto Township, Mon State, Myanmar
Nearest cityKyaikhto
Coordinates17°28′00″N 97°05′00″E / 17.46667°N 97.08333°E / 17.46667; 97.08333
Area156.21 km2 (60.31 sq mi)[1]
Established2001
Visitors1000000 (in 2014)
Governing bodyMyanmar Forest Department

Kyaikhtiyo Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area in Myanmar, stretching over 156.21 km2 (60.31 sq mi).[1] It covers evergreen and mixed deciduous forests an elevation of 50–1,090 m (160–3,580 ft) in Kyaikto Township. It was established in 2001 to conserve the biodiversity around the Kyaiktiyo Pagoda, a famous pilgrimage site in Mon State.[2]

It is managed by the Nature and Wildlife Conservation Division.[3]

Biodiversity

The Indo-Pacific gecko (Hemidactylus garnotii) occurs in the sanctuary.[4] In 2001, the bent-toed gecko Cyrtodactylus aequalis was discovered in the sanctuary and described as a new species in 2003.[5]

Key wildlife species are leopard (Panthera pardus), serow (Capricornis milneedwardsiiare), red goral (Naemorhedus baileyi).[2] Sambar deer (Rusa unicolor), Indian muntjac (Muntiacus muntjak), gaur (Bos gaurus), wild boar (Sus scrofa) are also said to occur in the sanctuary.[6]

Threats

Kyaikhtiyo Wildlife Sanctuary is threatened by illegal logging, harvesting of fire wood and hunting of wildlife for subsistence.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b World Database on Protected Areas (2019). "Kyeikhtiyoe Wildlife Sanctuary". Protected Planet.
  2. ^ a b c Beffasti, L.; Gallanti, V., eds. (2011). "Kyaikhtiyo". Myanmar Protected Areas: Context, Current Status and Challenges (PDF). Milano, Yangon: Istituto Oikos, Biodiversity and Nature Conservation Association. pp. 46–47.
  3. ^ Lazarus, K. M.; Cardinale, P.; Corbett, M.; Lin, N. S.; Noeske, T. K. H. (2017). "Baseline Assessment Report of Terrestrial Biodiversity" (PDF). Strategic Environmental Assessment of the Hydropower Sector in Myanmar. Washington, D.C.: International Finance Corporation.
  4. ^ Zug, G. R.; Vindum, J. V.; Koo, M. S. (2007). "Burmese Hemidactylus (Reptilia, Squamata, Gekkonidae): taxonomic notes on tropical Asian Hemidactylus". Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences. 58 (19): 387–405.
  5. ^ Bauer, A. M. (2003). "Descriptions of seven new Cyrtodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) with a key to the species of Myanmar (Burma)" (PDF). Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences. 54 (25): 463–498. S2CID 129933095. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-12-20.
  6. ^ Johnson, S.; Bowman, V.; Makusheva, I. & Wachenfeld, M. (2018). Biodiversity in Myanmar, including Protected Areas and Key Biodiversity Areas. Supplement to Briefing Paper on Biodiversity, Human Rights and Business (PDF). Yangon, Myanmar: Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business.