Narpuh Wildlife Sanctuary
Wildlife Sanctuary in Meghalaya
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Narpuh Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary in the East Jaintia Hills district of the Indian state of Meghalaya. Notified in 2014, it protects a significant tract of semi-evergreen and evergreen forest in the Jaintia Hills and is important for several threatened species found in north-east India.[2][3]
| Narpuh Wildlife Sanctuary | |
|---|---|
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area) | |
  Location in Meghalaya, India  Narpuh Wildlife Sanctuary (India) | |
 Interactive map of Narpuh Wildlife Sanctuary | |
| Location | East Jaintia Hills district, Meghalaya, India |
| Nearest city | Jowai |
| Coordinates | 25.105389°N 92.437997°E |
| Area | 59.90 km2 (23.13 sq mi) |
| Established | 10 June 2014[1] |
| Governing body | Forest & Environment Department, Government of Meghalaya |
Geography
Narpuh Wildlife Sanctuary covers approximately 59.90 km² and lies in the southern part of the Jaintia Hills landscape. The sanctuary contains hilly terrain with evergreen and semi-evergreen forest types and perennial streams that form important catchments for local rivers.[2] The sanctuary boundary and the official eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) are described in the Government of India notification for the ESZ; the ESZ around Narpuh extends beyond the sanctuary and covers a broader area as per the notification.[3]
Biodiversity
The sanctuary is noted for its floral diversity and for fauna typical of the north-eastern hill forests. Species reported from the sanctuary and surrounding landscape include primates such as the western hoolock gibbon, sambar, barking deer, and a rich bird assemblage including hornbills and other forest birds.[4]
Conservation and threats
Regional media and local conservation commentary have reported threats such as illegal logging, shifting cultivation and pressure from nearby settlements.[5]
It was rated as "Good" in the Wildlife Institute of India's Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) 2020-25 report.[6]