Murlen National Park, Location, Flora, Fauna, Significance

Murlen National Park is a protected forest located in the Champhai district of Mizoram, near the India–Myanmar border. Spread over approximately 200 square kilometres, it forms part of the globally important Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot. The park is famous for its dense evergreen forests, where in some areas only about 1% of sunlight reaches the forest floor. Rich in rare wildlife, medicinal plants, and bird species, Murlen National Park is one of Northeast India’s most significant biodiversity conservation areas.

Murlen National Park

Murlen National Park is situated in the Champhai district of eastern Mizoram, sharing an international border with Myanmar. It lies within the Mizo Hills, which form a part of the Patkai Hill Range, and is close to the Chin Hills of Myanmar. The park’s strategic location makes it an important ecological corridor connecting the forests of India and Southeast Asia.

Murlen National Park Flora

Murlen National Park is covered with dense sub-tropical evergreen and montane forests, making it one of the richest floral regions in Northeast India. Its humid climate, heavy rainfall, and thick forest canopy support an exceptional diversity of trees, medicinal plants, orchids, bamboo, and epiphytes.

• Sub-tropical Evergreen Forests: The park is dominated by dense evergreen forests with multi-layered vegetation and a closed canopy.
• Oak (Quercus spp.): Common in the montane forests, oaks play an important role in maintaining soil fertility and supporting wildlife.
• Michelia (Magnolia champaca): A valuable evergreen tree known for its fragrant flowers and high-quality timber.
• Castanopsis Species: These evergreen trees are among the dominant canopy species and provide food for birds and mammals.
• Bamboo (Melocanna baccifera and other species): Bamboo grows abundantly and serves as a vital food source and shelter for many animals.
• Cane (Rattan Palms): Found throughout the forest, rattan is ecologically important and widely used by local communities for handicrafts.
• Wild Bananas (Musa spp.): Naturally occurring banana species provide food for primates, birds, and other wildlife.
• Medicinal Plants: The park contains over 400 medicinal plant species, many of which are used in traditional Mizo herbal medicine.
• Wild Orchids: Numerous orchid species flourish in the humid environment, making the park a hotspot for orchid diversity.
• Ferns, Mosses, and Lichens: These moisture-loving plants thrive under the dense canopy, contributing to the forest’s rich biodiversity.
• Epiphytes: Orchids, mosses, and other epiphytic plants grow on tree trunks and branches without harming their host trees.
• Dense Forest Canopy: In some areas, the canopy is so thick that only about 1% of sunlight reaches the forest floor, creating a cool, humid microclimate that supports shade-loving plant species.

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Murlen National Park Fauna

Murlen National Park is one of the most important wildlife habitats in Northeast India, supporting a rich diversity of mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians.

• Hoolock Gibbon: India’s only ape and an endangered primate, the Hoolock Gibbon is one of the park’s flagship species and depends on continuous forest canopies for movement.
• Bengal Tiger: The park provides suitable habitat for the Bengal Tiger, an apex predator that helps maintain ecological balance.
• Leopard: A stealthy carnivore commonly found in the park’s dense forests and hilly terrain.
• Himalayan Black Bear: This vulnerable bear species inhabits the higher forested areas and feeds on fruits, insects, and small animals.
• Serow: A rare mountain-dwelling ungulate found on rocky slopes and forested hills, considered an important conservation species.
• Malayan Giant Squirrel: One of the world’s largest tree squirrels, easily recognized by its striking coloration and arboreal lifestyle.
• Clouded Leopard: An elusive and vulnerable wild cat that thrives in the park’s dense evergreen forests.
• Barking Deer (Indian Muntjac): A small deer species known for its distinctive barking alarm call.
• Wild Boar: A common omnivore that plays a significant role in seed dispersal and forest regeneration.
• Civets: Several civet species inhabit the park and contribute to maintaining forest ecosystems through seed dispersal.
• Porcupines: Nocturnal rodents that feed on roots, tubers, and fallen fruits.
• Asian Black Giant Flying Squirrel: A nocturnal gliding mammal that inhabits mature forest canopies.

Murlen National Park Significance

Murlen National Park is one of India’s most ecologically important protected areas due to its exceptional biodiversity, dense evergreen forests, and strategic location along the India–Myanmar border.

• Part of the Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot: The park lies within one of the world’s 36 biodiversity hotspots, known for its rich species diversity and high level of endemism.
• Habitat for Endangered Wildlife: It provides a safe refuge for threatened species such as the Hoolock Gibbon, Clouded Leopard, Bengal Tiger, Himalayan Black Bear, and Serow.
• Exceptional Floral Diversity: The park protects dense subtropical and montane forests containing over 400 medicinal plant species, rare orchids, bamboo, and numerous epiphytes.
• Unique Forest Canopy: Murlen is famous for its exceptionally dense forest canopy, where in some areas only about 1% of sunlight reaches the forest floor, creating a rare and unique forest ecosystem.
• Important Bird Conservation Area: It supports several rare bird species, including Mrs. Hume’s Pheasant (Mizoram’s state bird), Blyth’s Tragopan, hornbills, and other forest birds.
• Transboundary Ecological Corridor: Located near the India–Myanmar border, the park facilitates wildlife movement between the forests of the Mizo Hills and Chin Hills, strengthening regional biodiversity conservation.
• Climate and Watershed Protection: Its forests help regulate the local climate, prevent soil erosion, protect river catchments, and sustain the flow of rivers such as the Tiau and Tuivai.