Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary

Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary Latest News

Recently, a black melanistic leopard cub has been spotted close to the Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary in the Darjeeling hills.

About Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary

• Location: It is located in the state of West Bengal.
• It is one of the oldest sanctuaries in India, having been established in 1915.
• It is nestled in the biogeographic zone of Gangetic plain.
• It is actually the south east extension of the Singalila National Park.
• Vegetation: It mainly consists of temperate and alpine forest.
• The elevation of the Sanctuary ranges from 1,500 to 2,600 m (4,900 to 8,500 ft). 
• Flora: The forest has different kinds of trees and plantations including oak, pines and birch.
• Fauna: It provides habitat for barking deer, wild boar, Himalayan black bear, Indian leopard, jungle cat, rhesus monkey, Assam macaque, Himalayan flying squirrel. 

What is Melanism?

• It is the advanced version of the dark-coloured pigment called melanin found in the skin, hair, fur or feathers of various organisms.
• It is supposedly the outcome of a genetic mutation, but can also occur due to peculiar temperature changes during gestation.
  • Melanistic Leopard is simply a leopard with a unique genetic trait which makes its coat appear almost completely black.

Source: TI

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