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Site description (2004 baseline):

This IBA is located west and south of Mussoorie, a popular hill station of north India. Binog Sanctuary was notified in 1993 and included areas west of Mussoorie up to Bhadraj, the last peak in the Mussoorie range. Initially covering 1,082 ha, the sanctuary was called Mussoorie Sanctuary. Later, a large area was excluded and only the Binog block (338 ha) remained which was renamed as Binog Mountain Quail Sanctuary. Ten years later, the final notification remains to be issued. Jharipani is a sub-tropical area between Mussoorie and Dehra Dun, and a specimen of Himalayan or Mountain Quail Ophrysia superciliosa has been obtained here in the past. The Sanctuary was created to preserve a small patch of oak forest very close to Mussoorie, which is considered as Himalayan Quail habitat. The bird is still classified as Critically Endangered (probably not extinct), as the possibility of its existence in the area cannot be ruled out (BirdLife International 2001). The main forest of the area is Himalayan Moist Temperate (Ban Oak) type. The lower parts are covered with sub-tropical pine forests. Substantial areas have grass and scrub cover. The Sanctuary forms much of the catchment area of Kempty falls, a major tourist attraction of Mussoorie, and its forests play a crucial role in maintaining a good water flow in the lean summer months (Goyal 1999). The State owned area is covered with forests. There are a few large private estates having large tract of forests adjoining the Binog sanctuary and these are equally good bird habitats.

AVIFAUNA: Detailed studies on the bird life of this IBA have not been done. The common birds of temperate Ban Oak forests can be seen. The area is best known for the occurrence of Himalayan Quail in the past (Ali and Ripley 1987, Grimmett et al. 1999, BirdLife International 2001, Shafique and Javed 1999). All attempts to locate it in recent times have been unsuccessful (Rahul Kaul pers. comm. 2003). Cheer Pheasant Catreus wallichii and Kaleej Lophophorus leucomelanos are found in this area (S. Sathyakumar pers. comm. 2003).

OTHER KEY FAUNA: Goral Nemorhaedus goral, Barking Deer Muntiacus muntjak and Leopard Panthera pardus are still found, despite many years of hunting. Serow Nemorhaedus sumatraensis was shot many decades ago, west of Binog (Dang 1968).

MAIN THREATS: Tourism; Grazing; Road building.

The highest priority is the final notification of the Wildlife Sanctuary so there is no ambiguity in its protected status. As the area is very close to Mussoorie, a major tourist spot, an interpretation centre should be considered, with a major focus on the Himalayan Quail and other Himalayan fauna. Himalayan Quail is likely to be present in these areas, where it was reported 100 years back, though it is considered to be extinct. This interpretation centre could become a good place for disseminating conservation education. There should be intensive efforts to rediscover the Himalayan Quail. This could include a poster campaign with the involvement of local people. Habitat management in the Sanctuary should also be guided by the habitat requirements of this species. The forests in the area are fragmented and there are villages in the vicinity, which depend on them. However, the pressures are not severe and inaccessibility because of lack of all season roads helps in reducing disturbance. With the increase of tourism pressure in Mussoorie, more and more people have a tendency to look for quieter places in the vicinity. As a result some sites such as Clouds End on the edge of the Sanctuary are beginning to attract tourists, which if not controlled would adversely affect the habitat. A proposed road through the area may also damage adjacent forests.

Key contributors: Dhananjai Mohan, S. Sathyakumar and Rahul Kaul.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Binog Sanctuary - Bhadraj - Jharipani (India). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/binog-sanctuary--bhadraj--jharipani-iba-india on 23/11/2024.