Pong Dam Lake Wildlife Sanctuary

Pong Dam Lake Wildlife Sanctuary Latest News

Hundreds of buffaloes can be seen grazing freely in the restricted Pong wildlife sanctuary area in Samkehar, Bathu and Panalath near the Pong Wetland in clear violation of sanctuary norms.

About Pong Dam Lake Wildlife Sanctuary

• Pong Dam Lake (also known as Maharana Pratap Sagar) is a manmade reservoir formed due to the construction of Pong Dam on the Beas River in the wetland zone of the Shivalik hills in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. 
  • The Pong Dam is the highest earth-fill dam in India and was constructed in 1975.
• It is one of the largest man-made wetlands in Northern India. 
• Covering about 245 sq.km., the sanctuary comprises the water body of the reservoir as well as surrounding wetland environments.
• Pong Dam Lake was designated a Ramsar site in 2002.
• Flora: Consists of submerged vegetation, grasslands, and forests, including species like eucalyptus, acacia, and shisham.
• Fauna: 
  • Given the site’s location on the trans-Himalayan flyway, more than 220 bird species have been identified, with 54 species of waterfowl.
  • Avifauna include Bar-headed geese, Pintails, common pochards, coots, Grebes, Cormorants, Herons, Storks, , angle fowls, peafowl, Grey partridges, etc.
  • It is also home to animals like Sambar, Barking Deer, Wild Bear, Nilgai, Clawless Otter, and Leopards.

Source: TI

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