Data Zone
Country/territory: India
IBA criteria met: A1 (2004)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 42,820 hectares (428.20 km2)
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 2013 | good | medium | medium |
| For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here | |||
Site description (2004 baseline)
Sohagibarwa Wildlife Sanctuary lies in Maharajganj and Deoria districts of Uttar Pradesh. The total area of the Sanctuary is 42,820 ha. This area has been listed as a Priority III grassland (Matholia, Nichlaul) considering the conservation requirements of the typical fauna of the terai region (Rahmani and Islam 2000). The Sanctuary is divided into 7 zones for conservation and management of the wild flora and fauna. These are: core zone (7098.5 ha), administrative zone (29.07 ha), buffer zone (33518 ha), multiple use zone, tourism zone (9362.9 ha), education and awareness zone and research zone. The importance of this Sanctuary is enhanced by the presence of a waterbody called Singhrana Taal, in Chowk Range, which attracts hundreds of waterfowl (Rahmani 1988).
Key biodiversity
AVIFAUNA: No detailed study has been conducted on the bird life of this interesting Sanctuary, except for surveys by Rahmani et al. (1990) in search of the Bengal Florican Houbaropsis bengalensis, and later by Javed in search of Swamp Francolin Francolinus gularis. Although, the Bengal Florican was not sighted, some grassland in Compartment No. 16 of Nagwa and Compartment No. 31 of Sunari blocks are still good florican habitat. These adjoining blocks constitute about 260 hectares. Though half of the grassland has already been planted by the Forest Department, the remaining area has perfect grass cover for florican. Sohagibarwa is connected with Valmikinagar Tiger Reserve (an IBA) in Bihar, and Royal Chitwan National Park in Nepal (where the Bengal Florican is still found: BirdLife International, 2001). So there is still a chance that if the grassland habitat is protected, this endangered florican could reappear in Sohagibarwa. For this reason, the sanctuary has been designated as an IBA. Another reason for designating it as an IBA is the presence of Sarus Crane Grus antigone. Rahmani (1988) counted 45-50 Sarus in May 1988 in Singhrana Taal. The crane may have congregated in this wetland, located deep inside the forest, because most of the smaller wetlands had dried up due to summer heat. A pair of Blacknecked Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus was also seen, along with a juvenile. During winter, Singhrana Taal attracts hundreds of ducks and geese.
OTHER KEY FAUNA: Sohagibarwa was declared a wildlife sanctuary to protect the large mammalian fauna of the terai and bhabhar forest types of Uttar Pradesh, such as Tiger Panthera tigris and Leopard Panthera pardus, and their prey, Chital Axis axis, Sambar Cervus unicolor, Hog Deer Axis porcinus, and Barking Deer Muntiacus muntjak. Despite fragmentation and encroachment of forest corridors, Sohagibarwa WLS is tenuously connected with the much larger Valmiki Tiger Reserve in Bihar, and the Royal Chitwan National Park in Nepal, so, there could be some movement of animals.
Acknowledgements
Key contributors: Asad R. Rahmani and Zafar-ul Islam.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Sohagibarwa Wildlife Sanctuary (India). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/sohagibarwa-wildlife-sanctuary-iba-india on 23/12/2024.