Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary

About Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary

• Location:
  • It is situated in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal.
  • It is located on the foothills of the Himalayas and in between the Teesta and the Mahananda rivers.
• It was started as a game sanctuary for children in 1955. In 1959, it got the status of a sanctuary mainly to protect the Indian Bison and Royal Bengal Tiger.
• The Sanctuary reaches up to a high elevation at Latpanchar in Kurseong Hill.
• Terrain: The terrain is undulating, with moderate to steep slopes and high ridges towards the north.
• Vegetation: It varies mainly from riverine forests to dense mixed-wet forests due to the difference in altitude. 
• Flora:
  • Mainly, Sal, Shisu, Teak and Jarul forests are available here.
  • Other plantations include Udal, Champ, Lali, Jarul, Gamar, Mandane, Bamboos, Ferns, Orchids, Sidha etc. 
• Fauna:
  • The important mammalian species include the Royal Bengal Tiger, Indian elephants, Indian bison, spotted deer, barking deer, many species of lesser cat, Himalayan black bear etc.
  • The Sanctuary also holds hundreds of feathered species. It includes endangered species like fairy blue bird, Himalayan pied hornbill, etc.

Q1) What are riverine forests?

Riverine forests, also known as riparian forests or floodplain forests, are ecosystems found along the banks and floodplains of rivers and streams. These forests are characterized by their unique ecological features, which are influenced by the periodic flooding and flowing water of nearby rivers.

Source: Loco detached from tourist train at the entry point of the Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary