Manas Wildlife Sanctuary 9
Manas Wildlife Sanctuary
[Your Name Here]
[Subject]
[University Name]
Manas Wildlife Sanctuary
The Manas Wildlife Sanctuary otherwise known as Manas National Park is one of the wildlife parks located in Manas once known as Kamrup, in North eastern part of India in Assam State. The Manas wildlife properties include an area bordering India’s neighbouring landlocked nation Bhutan. Part of Manas Reserve Forest and the entire North Kamrup Reserve Forest which is the main area for the Manas Tiger Reserve make up the Manas National Park. Parts of the park were considered as reserved forests since 1907 and the park was designated as a wildlife sanctuary since 1928. The park was enlisted in World Heritage List in 1985 as Manas Sanctuary and was thereafter upgraded into a national park status in 1990.
The attempts to conserve the area made some people to feel losing their independence in the area. The conflict in the area flared up when the members of the Bodo Student’s Union occupied the park in 1989 to raise a campaign for autonomy of its residents comprising about 30 % of the Assam's population (India-Assam,n.d.). The situation fuelled aggression involving bloody incidences driving the sanctuary staff to abandon the area. The civil unrest and some destruction of the park’s infrastructure including the illegal activities by opportunistic individuals imposed a great fear of severely damaging the park. Subsequent actions prompted inscribing the area on the World Heritage in Danger list in 1992 (India-Assam, n.d. ). The area was also designated as a Project Tiger Reserve, an Elephant Reserve and a Biosphere Reserve.
“The Manas Wildlife Sanctuary is home to a great variety of wildlife, including many endangered species”. (Manas National Park). The park is not only a home to wild animals but the area is filled with diverse life forms. Wide range of animals and plants inhabit the area. There are also exchanges of animal species from the neighbouring faunas which turned the area a melting point of the west and the east. Great variation of wildlife can be spotted in the area including some endangered and rare species. Wild animals almost similar to some of the animals that can be seen in the African jungle give pride to the park such the golden and capped langur, Indian one-horned rhinoceros, clouded leopard,, hog deer, fishing cat, Indian otters, tigers, and elephants amongst others. The park actually has about 55 species of mammals including some eendangered species such as the Red Panda. More excitement is provided by the rare animal’s species inhabiting the area which include the Hispid Hare. Black panthers, Pigmy Hog, Pigmy Langur and the Assam roofed Turtle.
With the area with wide forests and water flowing from the Manas River and streams around the area, it is expected to find many ordinary animals in the park as well. Many butterflies are found everywhere. There are about fifty species of reptiles and three species of amphibians in the area. The park is also a home to more than 450 species of birds worthwhile mentioning great pied hornbill and the Bengal Florican among the resident birds. There are also many migratory birds species around such as Riverchats, Forktails, and Cormorants. It is also interesting to see the rare duck Ruddy Shell-Duck. These birds’ species added life to the park with their exhilarating activities and of course with their fascinating sweet melodies from many species. The vegetation of the area added to more diversity of the life form in the area. The Park is a home to about plants 543 plant species comprising about 374 dicotyledons species, 139 monocotyledons species, 30 Pteridophytes and Gymnospe. The grassland biome and the forest biome comprise the two major biomes in Manas. The main vegetation include the tropical semi-evergreen forests in the northern part of park which has lots of common trees; tropical moist and dry deciduous forests; and extensive alluvial grasslands in the western part of the park with different grass species together with a variety of tree and shrub species. “The combination of Sub-Himalayan Bhabar Terai formation with riverine succession leading up to Sub-Himalayan mountain forest makes it one of the richest biodiversity areas in the world.”(Manas National Park, n.d.)
As a community with diverse wildlife, the biological interrelationships among the life forms is not unique but rather follows similar concept as with any community. Perhaps the geographical characteristics of the area surroundings have given much advantage to the living creatures in the park. Having small grasslands along the heavy forests along the foothills with streams and natural water sources flowing all over the area, and a warm and humid climate has enhanced the habitation of its life forms. Resources from the vegetation are the main source of food to many animals. Many wild animals love to eat grasses, fruits, and seeds. Herds of deer are usually seen grazing the grasslands. It is a usual scene to see elephants and hog-deer raining the crop in the small seed farm in the area.
Just like any environment with diverse animals, predating smaller and weaker animals is also common. Of course, scavenging is among the activities observed. There are also few species invasion especially among the wild plants.
Many of those who visited the intact Manas Sanctuary Park in the past, hailed the area as comparable to a paradise on Earth but the image of the area is no longer the same as how it used to be mostly because of the consequences of human intrusions. Illegal human activities have provided the main threat to the area. Though conservation movements and protection schemes has been implemented, illegal activities are still observed including armed poaching, smuggling of wildlife articles, and illegal fishing. Deforestation activities are a bit controlled but there are still few who manage to sneak in with illegal acquisition of timbers. Since the surrounding area is heavily populated with many raising livestock, grazing along the park areas is quite uncontrollable especially in the south. Villagers nearby the reserve periphery also makes use of nearby park areas to get grasses, firewood, timbers and woods believing they are just doing things within their legitimate 'rights'; a right that has been causing them heartaches for being denied by the government since the area became a Tiger Reserve in 1973 (India-Assam). Among the great threats in the buffer zone include unsustainable burning in the dry season, hunting and extraction of timber and firewood.
The surrounding area is inhabited predominantly by tribal people and reclamation of the encroached areas has been a never ending issues led by those with ideologies to regain their autonomy with the areas that was used to be their own. To pacify the people and lie low from putting pressure with the encroachment, portion of the sanctuary, about 809 hectares, was made into a seed farm in 1971 for the local people to work. Though the negative impacts of insurgency have been reduced, its threat to the area remains. Tourism used to have its own contribution of threat but with much controlled and organized tourism activities, the threat is no longer considered highly threatening.
The area is threatened so different protection and preservation measures have been carried out. As to why this area needs to be preserved surely is to preserve its outstanding national value, its values that qualified enlistment of the area to the World Heritage List. The park is given great value for its river which provides great example of geological processes and biological evolution, for having exceptional beauty of nature, and as a habitat to many endangered and rare wildlife species.
The Assam Forest Department take full charge as park administrator. Corrective measures have been implemented. Re-building the park infrastructure has been initiated. Anti-poaching camps have been restored and construction of bamboo bridges has been implemented. Patrol barracks were opened to provide additional security to the area. The park needs more employees and there are still many vacant positions that need to be filled. Filling out all the vacant positions is targeted to provide adequate manning of the area.
Conservation of Manas Sanctuary Park is not just an Indian government concern but it has so far received much local and international support. The area is conferred protection through the applications of Wildlife Protection Act, Forest Conservation Act, and Biodiversity Conservation Act. The Ashoka Trust of Research on Ecology and Environment (ATREE) is also protecting the welfare of this spectacular park. NGO’s is also demonstrating full swing support through different organizations such as the Manas Maozigendri Ecotourism Society, Swmkhwr Mithinga Onsai Afat, Manas Agrang Society, Manas Bhuyanpara Conservation & Ecotourism Society, Panbari Manas National Park Protection, and Ecotourism Society and the Dolphin Foundation. Different programs to restore wildlife population has been implemented which include the Indian Rhino Vision 2020 programme, Rescue Program for Elephants, Conservation Activities, and Recovery Plan for the Pygmy Hogs. Since 1973, the area is the center of Manas Tiger Reserve.
Hunting in the area has been prohibited and very little logging is allowed
Livestock grazing has been phased out officially and exploitation of any wildlife has been strictly prohibited. Burning within the vicinity has been controlled. There is a designated area open to tourists to witness the exotic wildlife scenery of this park. Since the conflict with the Bodo people has caused great damages in the past, an agreement between them and India government has been signed. Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) was formed and the responsibility of park management was handed down to this council.
There have been additional efforts to further the preservation of the area. UNESCO /IUCN created a reactive monitoring mission to oversee the developments in the area by ensuring timely release of funds by the Assam Government, undergoing a comprehensive wildlife survey, and ensuring transboundary cooperation. Central funding schemes for the welfare of the park has been developed which include the Project Tiger and the Project Elephant. Environmentl protection schemes have been established to help area conservation.
As the staffs have significant roles in protecting the area, they had been provided with accommodation. To improve the efficiency of administration and anti-poaching operations, road has been developed and wireless network was up. Important equipments including vehicles were provided to the area. As one of the important moves, public education and school educational program on area protection and conservation has been reinforced. “The WWF initiated a project to identify the essential needs of the fringe villagers with the aim of providing alternatives to their dependence on the park.” (Assam-India, n.d.)
To fully protect the area, there are individual contributions that can help the preservation of the diversity of its life forms. Anyone can participate in volunteer force. Individual’s cooperation in any conservation efforts also counts a lot. As climate change has great impact to the wildlife, a contribution in decreasing threat of climate change would be a great help.
Of course, giving due attention to the needs of the people to minimize illegal activities would somehow help to cut down the threats from any illegal activities. The government is also needed to give due attention to the roots of the insurgency problems. As the area is heavily populated outnumbering those overseeing the park areas, anyone can possibly intrude the area by any means, allowing active participation of the residents in safeguarding the area should be considered. Subsequent intrusion to the area will never end the threats on the wildlife. If allowed to go on, progressive destruction of the wildlife can be expected and can the turn the area no longer an exotic wildlife scenery but it can end up nothing but an ordinary forest that is if forests are also sustained.
References
India-Assam. World Heritage Sites. Retrieved October 9, 2008 from http://www.unep-wcmc.org/protected_areas/data/wh/manas.html
Manas National Park. Retrieved October 9, 2008 from: http://www.kolkatabirds.com/manas/manas.htm
Manas Wildlife Sanctuary. Retrieved October 9, 2008 from
http://www.wild-india.com/WildlifeSanctuaries/manas-wild-sanctuary.html
(2008).Manas National Park-India. Retrieved October 9, 2008 from
the Encyclopedia of Earth Website: http://www.eoearth.org/article/Manas_National_Park,_India
(2008).Mission Report. UNESCO World Heritage Center. Retrieved October 9, 2008 from whc.unesco.org/download.cfm?
Manas Wildlife Sanctuary- The Outline
I. Diversity of Life Froms
A. The Manas Fauna
1. Home to Wild Animals
a. 55 species of mammals
2. Home to Endangered Species
a. Red Panda
3. Home to Many Ordinary
a. Butterflies
b. 50 species or reptiles
c. 3 species of amphibians
4. Animals.Home to Rare Animals Species
- Hispid Rare
- Pigmy Hog
- Pigmy Langur
- Assam roofed Turtle
B. The Manas Avifauna
1. Home to more than 450 species of birds
a. resident bird species
i. great pied hornbill,
ii. Bengal florican,
b. migratory bird species
i. Riverchats
ii. Forktails
iii. Cormorants
iv. Ruddy Shell-Duck.
C. The Manas Flora
1. Home to 543 Plants Species
a. 374 dicotyledons species
b. 139 monocotyledons species
c. 30 Pteridophytes and Gymnospe
2. Main Vegetation
a. Tropical semi-evergreen forests in the northern part of park.
i. common trees
b. tropical moist and dry deciduous forests
i. trees
c. extensive alluvial grasslands in the western part of the park
i. different grass species together with a variety of tree and shrub species
II. Biological Interrelationships among the Life Forms in Manas
A. Vegetation as main source of food to many animals.
1. grasses
2. fruits
3. seeds
B. Predating smaller and weaker animals.
C. Species Invasion
D. Scavenging
III. The Human Intrusions threatening the Manas Area
A. Illegal activities
1. Armed poaching
2. Smuggling of wildlife articles
3. Illegal fishing
4. Deforestation
5. Grazing
B. Tourism
C. Reclamation of the encroached areas
D. Rehabilitation of the seed farms
E. Insurgency
IV. Protection and Preservation of Manas
A. Implementation of the corrective measures.
1. Re-building park infrastructure.
a. Construction of Anti-poaching camps
b. Construction of Bamboo bridges
c. Opening of Patrol Barracks