IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Norbu, U.P.; Tobgay, S. | |
| Phibsoo Wildlife Sanctuary - Conservation Management Plan, 2012-2017 | |
| Full Book | |
Phibsoo Wildlife Sanctuary, with an area of 269 km2, is the smallest among the existing ten protected areas in the country. It was first declared as Phibsoo Reserved Forest in 1974 and, later in 1993, upgraded to a wildlife sanctuary. Not only does Phibsoo Wildlife Sanctuary protect the southernmost variant of the country's sub-tropical Himalayan forest ecosystem but is also a critical source of several seasonal and perennial water bodies which contribute to the fertility of the Assam Duars. The sanctuary happens to be the easternmost limit of spotted deer (_Axis axis_), common pea fowl (_Pavo cristatus_) and sal (_Shorea robusta_) bearing forests. At the same time, it is the westernmost limit of the globally threatened golden langur (_Trachypithecus geei_) and the rare and valuable agar tree (_Aquillaria malaccensis_). It also provides refuge to a number of charismatic and globally threatened species such as the Asian elephant (_Elephas maximus_), Bengal tiger (_Panthera tigris tigris_), and rufous-necked hornbill (_Aceros nipalensis_). Three broad categories of vegetation can be identified in the sanctuary, namely: Sub-tropical Semi-evergreen Forest; Sub-tropical Moist Deciduous Forest; and Sub-tropical Moist Evergreen Forests. Preliminary surveys have recorded 637 species of flowering plants, 20 species of mammals, and 131 species in the sanctuary. Comprehensive surveys are expected to reveal much higher number of species. The sanctuary is home to 1,254 people. Another 1,357 people live in its peripheries. These people primarily subsist on crop agriculture and livestock rearing. The major local crops include paddy, maize, millet, potato, mandarin, areca nut, chilli, and mustard. Cattle, goat and poultry are the main livestock reared by the local communities. Forest products also play a key role in the local livelihood system. A total of 144 forest plants were listed for their various ethno-botanical values during preliminary surveys in Senge and Katarey villages. |
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