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Site description (2004 baseline):

This is a remote area that has all the requirements to be considered as an IBA. It is large and thinly populated, with many inaccessible areas where the forest cover is largely intact. It is part of the Great Himalaya and the topography is rugged, with steep rocky slopes. The forest cover consists of Temperate Broadleaf in the lower areas and Coniferous Forests in the higher areas. Fir Abies spp. dominate the coniferous forests on the hill tops. Bamboo brakes in the gorges along the hilly streams and rhododendrons on middle to higher reaches, provide habitat for many species of birds.

AVIFAUNA: According to A. U. Choudhury (pers. comm. 2003), four species of pheasants are found in this area, namely the Satyr Tragopan Tragopan satyra, Temminck’s Tragopan T. temminckii, Blyth’s Tragopan T. blythii and Blood Pheasant Ithaginis cruentus. Of these, Blyth’s Tragopan is globally threatened (BirdLife International 2001) and a Restricted Range species (Stattersfield et al. 1998). A total of eight Restricted Range species are found but three need confirmation and there could be more because the area has not been studied properly. As the habitat is largely intact, many biome species of Sino-Himalayan Temperate Forest and Eurasian High Montane Forest (Alpine and Tibetan) are likely to occur. This site has been selected as an IBA on the basis of A1 (globally threatened) and A2 (Restricted Range) criteria, but this site definitely satisfies A3 criteria also (biome-restricted assemblages of birds) (BirdLife International, undated). However, a list of biome species is not available.

OTHER KEY FAUNA: Not much is known except that Musk Deer Moschus chrysogaster, Goral Nemorhaedus goral, Asiatic Black Bear Ursus thibetanus and Red Panda Ailurus fulgens are found. Among the non-human primates, Capped Langur Trachypithecus pileatus and Assamese Macaque Macaca assamensis are found.

MAIN THREATS: Firewood Collection; Poaching.

Charaching and timber cutting occurs around villages and settlements but their full impact is not known due to remoteness of the area and thin human population.

Key contributors: B. B. Bhatt and Anwaruddin Choudhury.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Thungri - Chaglang - Poshingla Maji, Basti and Liak area (India). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/thungri--chaglang--poshingla-maji-basti-and-liak-area-iba-india on 22/11/2024.