Data Zone
Site description (2004 baseline):
AVIFAUNA: More than 230 species of birds have been identified (U. Lachungpa pers. comm. 2003). Outside Khangchendzonga National Park, this is the site where the State Bird of Sikkim, the Blood Pheasant Ithaginis cruentus, is found, probably in significant numbers. Among the globally threatened species of this site, the most prominent one would be the Wood Snipe Gallinago nemoricola, as it possibly breeds here (U. Lachungpa pers. comm. 2003). Satyr Tragopan Tragopan satyra at the upper limit of its range, and Himalayan Monal Lophophophorus impejanus, the former considered as Near Threatened (BirdLife International 2001), are also residents. The Snow Pigeon Columba leuconota come down here in winter. Other species of interest are the Fire-tailed Sunbird Aethopyga ignicauda and Gold-naped Black Finch Pyrrhoplectes epauletta, birds of temperate forest. Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos and Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga, Brown-headed Gull Larus brunnicephalus with Tufted Pochard Aythya fuligula were seen occasionally in Tsomgo Lake during the winter Asian Waterfowl Census (AWC). Pallas’s Fish-Eagle Haliaeetus leucoryphus was once seen in the forest patch below Tamzey during a survey for Red Panda in 1998 (U. Lachungpa pers. comm. 2003). The site is located in the Eastern Himalayas Endemic Bird Area (EBA-130) where 21 species have been listed of which only one species, the Hoary-throated Barwing Actinodura nipalensis, has been found till now but more are likely to occur. Perhaps the most important reason for selection of this site as an IBA is the presence of large number of biome restricted species of three biome types. Although, this site lies chiefly in Biome-7 (Sino- Himalayan Temperate Forest), birds of Biome-5 (Eurasian High Montane-Alpine and Tibetan) and Biome-8 (Sino-Himalayan Subtropical Forest) are also seen, mainly due to their altitudinal movement. In winter, birds of Biome-5 move down, so we see species such as Rosy Pipit Anthus roseus, Snow Pigeon Columba leuconota, Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris and others in this site. Thirteen out of 48 species of this biome have been seen in this IBA. Expectedly, the largest number of biome restricted species is from Biome 7: 35 out of 112 species but more are likely to be present. As the boundary between Biome-7 and Biome-8 is very diffuse (like all other biomes), some species are likely to be present in both the biomes. Till now, U. Lachungpa (pers. comm. 2003) has been able to locate only two biome restricted species, Grey-winged Blackbird Turdus boulboul and Black-spotted Yellow-Tit Parus spilonotus, of Biome-8 in this IBA. However, considering the long list of Biome-8 birds (95 species) and the extent of good habitat available, more species are likely to be found here.
OTHER KEY FAUNA: Takin Budorcas taxicolor, Red or Hill Fox Vulpes vulpes, Goral Nemorhaedus goral, Musk Deer Moschus chrysogaster, Yellow- Throated Marten Martes flavigula, Asiatic Black Bear Ursus thibetanus, Mouse-Hare Ochotona roylei and Siberian Weasel
Mustela sibirica have been recorded from this IBA. Some of the Himalayan Marmots Marmota himalayana rescued from North Sikkim and released in the Sanctuary were re-sighted after eight years (Ganguli-Lachungpa and Sharma 2002). So far, no herpetofauna survey has been conducted in this IBA (U. Lachungpa pers. comm. 2003).
Part of the Sanctuary has faced logging operations by the Forest Department in the past. Also, much of the tree cover was removed from the area during the time when the Natu La trade route to Lhasa, Tibet was open. The areas towards Tsomgo Lake were also degraded by grazing and annual collection of medicinal herbs, but more due to uncontrolled tourism activities since the area was opened almost a decade ago. Due to deployment of non-native personnel including road maintenance labour force and army camps along the Gangtok-Natu La-Zuluk- Rongli route, there have been poaching incidences of Blood Pheasant (the State Bird) and Himalayan Monal from this IBA, and often traps were encountered during surveys or feathers found outside field kitchens (U. Lachungpa pers. comm. 2003). Due to heavy human use, including vehicular traffic, both tourist and military, important wetlands, lakes and watershed areas are constantly in danger of being polluted. Almost a decade ago, an epidemic of the jaundice hit the State capital Gangtok and was suspected to be a result of contamination due to a military settlement at the source of the River Ratey Chu, source of Gangtok’s water supply. The area lies on the eastern periphery of this IBA (U. Lachungpa pers. comm. 2003). The Brahminy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea, Tufted Pochard Aythya fuligula and Wigeon Anas penelope are now seldom seen at Tsomgo Lake due to uncontrolled numbers of tourists wandering around its periphery and continuous traffic. Like in other IBAs of Sikkim, stray and feral dogs are a menace, proliferating around camp kitchens. There have been instances of human casualties due to these dogs. There have also been instances of Asiatic Black Bear raiding ration depots in this region (U. Lachungpa pers. comm. 2003). A proposal for re-opening of the Natu La trade route is under consideration.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Kyongnosla Alpine Sanctuary - Tsomgo - Tamze - Chola Complex (India). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/kyongnosla-alpine-sanctuary--tsomgo--tamze--chola-complex-iba-india on 22/11/2024.