Data Zone
Site description (2004 baseline):
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.
The major issues for management of the Sanctuary is long term conservation of the Tiger, which is the flagship species of the area.There is acute shortage of staff especially at the field level due to a ban on recruitment at the level of foresters and forest guards. Man-animal conflict is another management challenge, as poisoning of carcasses leading to death of large cats is a major threat. Habitat improvement is an urgent need especially to conserve Singhrana Taal, which is the major water body of the Sanctuary. Immediate attention should be given to control Water Hyacinth in Singhrana Taal and other waterbodies. Chandamani Taal is also an important wetland and is a good Swamp Francolin habitat. Major management concerns of the area include illicit felling, grazing and increasing pressure from the taungya cultivators living in the area. Grazing and afforestation are the primary threats to these Priority III grasslands. Therefore, programmes for fodder management and stopping of all afforestation are important grassland management strategies (Rahmani and Islam 2000).
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 22/11/2024.