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SANCTUARY SPOTLIGHT

Dampa Tiger Reserve

Mizoram's biggest wildlife sanctuary is situated on the international border with Bangladesh. The tropical forests of Dampatlang and Chhawrpial Tlang are home to high hills, jungle streams, valleys and natural salts licks and several endangered wild animals, including the endemic Leaf Monkey

While high precipitous hills run from north to south, the lower regions have valleys and flat land, with the Keisalam, Seling and Aivapui rivers running through them. The area was under the rule of a local chieftain till 1950, and the lower areas were used for shifting cultivation. In 1974, it was declared a wildlife sanctuary, but it had to be re-notified in 1985. The sanctuary became a Tiger Reserve in 1994.

The forests (tropical evergreen and semi-evergreen forests, tropical moist deciduous forests, sub-montane type) boast some great bamboos, canes and some gorgeous orchids.

Area: 550 sq.km in western Mizoram

Mammals: Tiger, leopard, Indian elephant, gaur, serow, barking deer, wild boar, porcupine, sloth bear, Himalayan black bear, rhesus macaque, leaf monkey, pigtail macaque, stumptail macaque, hoolock gibbon, Assamese macaque, slow lorries, giant squirrel

Reptiles: Python, king cobra, monitor lizard, hill tortoise

Birds: Great Indian hornbill, Malbar pied hornbill, peacock pheasant, red jungle fowl, crested serpent eagle, emerald dove, hill myna

Best time to visit: October to March.

How to get there:

Road: 127 km from Aizawl

Rail: Silchar (280 km)

Air: Lengpui Airport (60 km from to W.Phaileng, Forest Department Headquarters)

Contact:

The Chief Wildlife Warden, Mizoram, Tuikhuahtlang, Aizawl, Fax : 0389-2325371.

Or

The Field Director, Dampa Tiger Reserve, District Aizawal, Mizoram-796001, Ph: 0389-2329339.

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