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Site description (2004 baseline):

Intanki was declared as a Reserve Forest in May 7, 1923, and later adjoining forest patches were added in July 18, 1927. However, the first working plan was implemented during 1963- 64. Earlier, selective felling was carried out between Monglu and Intanki rivers. But in 1975, when the area was declared a sanctuary, this was stopped. Thereafter, more forest roads, artificial salt licks and camps for protection were created. In 1995, the Government of Nagaland upgraded it to a National Park. The northern part of Intanki is a low rainfall zone of the northeast. Intanki is contiguous with Dhansiri Reserve Forest of Assam (Karbi Anglong) to the north. The Dhansiri River marks the boundary between these two areas. Many rivers and streams intersect the Park, among them Monglu, Intanki and Duilong are the major tributaries of Dhansiri river. The terrain is undulating and hilly, with bamboo groves. The Range Office is located about 40 km from Dimapur. The forest is tropical semi-evergreen and tropical moist deciduous type.

AVIFAUNA: Very little is known about the avifauna of the Intanki area, but many biome species were recorded from the adjacent Dhansiri reserve forest (Choudhury 1998). These species are likely to be present in Intanki area also. Among the threatened species, Whitewinged Duck Cairina scutulata is found here. Choudhury (2001) mentions that local hunters claim to have seen it two or three times in jungle pools in 1990-1991. There are past records from Rangapahar Reserve Forest and adjacent lowland forests near Dimapur (Hume 1890, Hutchinson 1946). The Rufous-necked Hornbill Aceros nipalensis is also found, but its population density is unknown (Choudhury 2001). The Oriental Pied Hornbill Anthracoceros albirostris, once common all over Nagaland, now survives in protected areas such as Intanki. Similarly, Brown Hornbill Anorrhinus tickelli, a Near Threatened species (BirdLife International 2001) also survives in Intanki Sanctuary and Dhansiri Reserve Forest (Choudhury 2001). Perhaps the worst fate is that of the Great Pied Hornbill Buceros bicornis. Once not uncommon all over Nagaland, it is now extremely rare, mostly due to persecution for food as well as feathers (primaries and tail), which are in great demand for use in traditional headdresses. It is locally extinct in most places, and the only notable population is found in Intanki NP (Choudhury 2001). Intanki lies in the Eastern Himalayas Endemic Bird Area. Among the restricted range species, Grey Sibia Heterophasia gracilis is identified but more species are likely to be found. Intanki is located in Biome-9 (Indo-Chinese Tropical Moist Forest), but some species of Biome-7 (Sino-Himalayan Temperate Forest) and Biome-8 (Sino-Himalayan Subtropical Forest) are also found, especially in winter. For example, Rufous-bellied Niltava Niltava sundara of Biome-7 is reported from this IBA (A. U. Choudhury pers. comm. 2003). Intanki is one of the hotspots of bird conservation in northeast India, but detailed work has not been done here, therefore, we consider it as Data Deficient. Choudhury (2001) has identified 487 species of birds from Nagaland. A bird checklist of Intanki is not available, but many of the species listed by Choudhury are likely to occur, especially those of Biome-8 and Biome-9.

OTHER KEY FAUNA: Intanki NP has almost all the large mammals of Nagaland, such as the Asian Elephant Elephas maximus, Tiger Panthera tigris, Leopard P. pardus, Wild Dog Cuon alpinus, Asiatic Black Bear Ursus thibetanus, Clouded Leopard Neofelis nebulosa, Golden Cat Catopuma temmincki, Marbled Cat Pardofelis marmorata, Gaur Bos frontalis, Wild Boar Sus scrofa, Sambar Cervus unicolor, Barking Deer Muntiacus muntjak, and Serow Nemorhaedus sumatraensis. It is very rich in primate species (A. U. Choudhury pers. comm. 2003), namely Assamese Macaque Macaca assamensis, Rhesus Macaque M. mulatta, Stump-tailed macaque M. arctoides, Pig-tailed macaque M. nemestrina, Capped Langur Trachypithecus pileata and Hoolock Gibbon Hylobates hoolock, and the Slow Loris Nycticebus coucang.

MAIN THREATS: Encroachment; Poaching; Tree Felling.

Intanki NP is adjacent to the Dhansiri RF in Assam. While Dhansiri has already become an Elephant Reserve, Intanki is still at the proposed stage. The elephants move between the two forests. There has been some encroachment and illegal logging activity in the Park. Due to the alleged presence of extremists in the Park, movement of government officials is restricted.

Key contributor: Anwaruddin Choudhury.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Intaki National Park (India). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/intaki-national-park-iba-india on 23/11/2024.