Wild Haven
Himalayan Brown bear
(Photo: http://greathimalayannationalpark.com/biodiversity-overview/)
Oak forests (Photo: http://greathimalayannationalpark.com/biodiversity-overview/)
B
REATHTAKING mountain views
are the hallmark of this protected
forest area, amongst the most recently
conferred National Parks (created in
1999). It was initially set up in 1984.
Characterised by dazzling high
ridges, glaciers, deep gorges, alpine
meadows and valleys with closed virgin
forests, the Great Himalayan National
Park boasts of diverse flora and fauna
too. With an altitude varying between
1,300 meters to 6,100 meters, the Great
Himalayan National Park situated in
Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh
supports a diverse wildlife of over three
hundred species of birds and over thirty
species of mammals.
Spread over an area of 765 square
kilometres, this region is one of the
largest areas of relatively undisturbed
Western Himalayan ecosystems. It is
enclosed on the northern, eastern and
western boundaries by the Greater
Himalayan range. The boundaries of
Out of the seven pheasants
found in the Western
Himalayas, six of them, the
western Tragopan, Monal,
Cheer, Koklass, Kaliz and
Himalayan Snowcock can be
found in the park.
Himalayan Griffon vulture
(Photo: http://greathimalayannationalpark.com/
biodiversity-overview/)
Among raptors, species such
as Black Eagle and Booted
Eagle were recorded a few
times.
SCIENCE REPORTER, MAY 2013
54
Wild
W
ild H
Haven
aven
Above: Western Tragopan
(Photo: http://greathimalayannationalpark.com/biodiversity-overview/)
Above Right: Snow leopard
(Photo: http://greathimalayannationalpark.com/biodiversity-overview/)
Left: Butterfly – Common map
(Photo: http://greathimalayannationalpark.com/biodiversity-overview/)
Left below: Rhododendron campanulatum
(Photo: http://greathimalayannationalpark.com/biodiversity-overview/)
GHNP are also contiguous with the
Pin Valley National Park (675 sq km)
in Trans-Himalaya, the Rupi Bhabha
Wildlife Sanctuary (503 sq km) in Sutlej
watershed and the Kanawar Wildlife
Sanctuary (61 sq km), adding additional
protection and conservation value and
opening up extended wildlife corridors.
One-third of the park area is
covered by forests, varying from subtropical, to alpine, to dry alpine shrub
type vegetation. Himalayan forests
of ‘Chir’ Pines, Conifers, Oaks, Firs,
Rhododendrons and Junipers can
be encountered within the park. The
presence of undisturbed Oak forests
at low and middle altitudes is worth
noticing.
Alpine
meadows
above
3,800 meters hold a high diversity of
herbacious species, many of which have
medicinal and aromatic properties of
The endangered Musk Deer,
Himalayan Black Bear, and
Himalayan Red Fox can also be
found here. The elusive and highly
endangered Snow Leopard has
also been reported by herdsmen.
great commercial value. Lichens, which
occur between heights of 2500-3500
metres, are abundant in this region and
over 192 species have been catalogued.
Lichens are helpful in monitoring forest
conditions like moisture content and
pollution levels. They are collected
extensively over the Himalayas and are
used as an ingredient in many Ayurvedic
medicines.
The Park shelters a large number
of mammals and pheasants. One of
the few known viable populations of
Western Tragopan, a highly endangered
species of pheasants, lives in this
protected environment. Out of the
seven pheasants found in the Western
Himalayas, six of them, the western
Tragopan, Monal, Cheer, Koklass, Kaliz
and Himalayan Snowcock can be found
in the park.
The Park receives at least fifty
species, which are summer visitors. They
include Eurasian Woodcock, cuckoos,
Oriental Turtle Dove, swifts, swallows,
Grey Nightjar, drongos, most flycatchers
and warblers, many chats and thrushes.
Among raptors, species such as Black
Eagle and Booted Eagle were recorded
a few times. Both Himalayan Griffon
and Lammergeier were common in the
Park. The Collared Owlet and the Tawny
55
Owl were also commonly found in the
temperate forest zone.
It is possibly the only place in the
Himalayas where the ‘Bharal’ (blue
sheep) occurs virtually side-by-side
with the Himalayan ‘Tahr’ (a variety of
wild mountain goat). You can also find
the Goral, a ruminant species that is
currently in significant decline, here.
The endangered Musk Deer, Himalayan
Black Bear, and Himalayan Red Fox
can also be found here. The elusive and
highly endangered Snow Leopard has
also been reported by herdsmen. Other
noteworthy animals include the barking
deer, wolves, leopards, and langurs.
The park also has an unexplored
treasure of butterflies and a variety of
insects. This large family of butterflies
contains some of the biggest and most
beautiful species in the world. Many
of them have long tail, which resemble
roughly those of the swallowtails. The
average life span of adult swallowtail
butterflies may be as long as four
months, but generally up to 20 to 30
days.
A process for the inclusion of
this pristine and untouched site as a
World Heritage Site has already been
initiated.
SCIENCE REPORTER, MAY 2013