Data Zone
Country/territory: India
IBA criteria met: A1, A2 (2004)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 7,860 ha
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 2003 | not assessed | medium | not assessed |
| For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here | |||
Site description (2004 baseline)
Singhalila National Park (SNP), situated at the northwestern border of Darjeeling district qualifies as an IBA because it harbours many endemic and threatened bird species. Climatically, this IBA is moist temperate, and parts of it lie within temperate to alpine zones. On the northern side, the Park is contiguous with the forests of Sikkim, while to the south, there are reserve forest corridors. If these are restored, the IBA would be connected to Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary near Darjeeling town. On the western side, there is contiguity with the forests in Nepal, though the areas are very small. Forest types include Wet Temperate Forests at altitudes 2,500-2,800 m which are dominated by Quercus sp. Moist Temperate Forests in the 2,850- 3,600 m range which include species such as Quercus pachyphylla, Betula utilis, Castanopsis tribuloides, Tsuga brunniona, Rhododendron sp. and an understorey of ringal bamboo; Subalpine Forests in the 3,000-3,650 m range include species like Abies densa, Betula utilis and Rhododendron sp. (S. Khaling, in litt. 2003). The forests of Singhalila are reported to be floristically very rich. Rhododendron (13 species), Magnolia, orchids, medicinal plants like Aconitum sp., Swertia chirata, Rheum sp., and Taxus baccata, are some of the important plant species found in the Park. Besides, the forests have a variety of mosses, lichens, mushrooms, tree ferns, climbers and other epiphytic plants (S. Khaling, in litt. 2003).
Key biodiversity
AVIFAUNA: This IBA is widely known for its bird diversity. Sarla Khaling claims to record 500 bird species from an area which is just over 100 sq. km, but list is not available. These include the Satyr Tragopan Tragopan satyra, Blackbacked Kaleej Pheasant Lophura leucomelanos, Blood Pheasant Ithaginis cruentus, Hill Partridge Arborophila torqueola, Redbreasted Hill Partridge A. mandelli.
OTHER KEY FAUNA: Some important mammals of SNP are Leopard Panthera pardus, Clouded Leopard Neofelis nebulosa, Asiatic Black Bear Ursus thibetanus, Chinese Pangolin Manis pentadactyla, Himalayan Mouse-Hare Ochotona roylei, rodents, bats. The rare Red Panda Ailurus fulgens is an important species of the National Park.
Acknowledgements
Key contributor: Sarala Khaling.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Singhalila National Park (India). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/singhalila-national-park-iba-india on 25/11/2024.