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Site description (2004 baseline):

Yangoupokpi-Lokchao Sanctuary in located on the Indo-Myanmar border, c. 110 km from Imphal. The eastern boundary of the Sanctuary is coterminus with the international border. Moreh town, a point of international trade, is located on the fringe of this sanctuary. Some studies have been done on the flora and fauna, but more work is required for a full inventory. The Green Peafowl Pavo muticus has been reported from the Sanctuary, which is an important international refuge for wildlife from either side of the international border and may house some Southeast Asian components also. Tropical Moist Deciduous Forests cover the area, while the valleys bear Tropical Semi-evergreen forests.

AVIFAUNA: No detailed information is available on this data deficient site, which is one of the two areas in India where the Green Peafowl is still occasionally seen (Choudhury 2000). BirdLife International (2001) has listed it as Vulnerable, as it has a rapidly declining and severely fragmented population, owing primarily to high hunting pressure and habitat destruction. Rapid decline and further fragmentation are foreseen, hence its vulnerable status. This site falls in the East Himalayas Endemic Bird Area (Stattersfield et al. 1998). This part of the Himalayas is particularly rich in restricted range (endemic) birds, and the genus Sphenocichla is endemic to this EBA. BirdLife International (undated) has identified 21 Indian bird species restricted to this EBA. We do not know how many species are found in this site. Yangoupokpi-Lokchao Wildlife Sanctuary comes within Biome-9 (Indo-Chinese Tropical Moist Forest). Nineteen bird species occur in this biome (BirdLife International, undated). As the forest is largely intact, many of these biome-restricted species are likely to occur in this IBA. Detailed investigation of the biodiversity of this site is urgently needed in view of its deteriorating conditions.

OTHER KEY FAUNA: Asiatic Black Bear Ursus thibetanus, Sambar Cervus unicolor, Barking Deer Muntiacus muntjak, Clouded Leopard Neofelis nebulosa, Capped Langur Trachypithecus pileatus, and Hoolock Gibbon Hylobates hoolock are reported from this area (A. Choudhury pers. comm. 2002).

Fewer records are available on the amphibians and reptiles. The Burmese subspecies of Python molurus vittatus is not uncommon.

MAIN THREATS: Hunting; Habitat loss; Insurgency; Encroachment.

The site is on the international border, so poaching and smuggling of wildlife products are rampant. Moreh is a fast growing township of Manipur on the international border where international trade is allowed. As a result, human settlers are putting pressure on the Sanctuary. Illegal charcoal making for supply to the town of Tamu in Myanmar is a growing problem.

Key contributors: R. K. Ranjan Singh, Anwaruddin Choudhury, Salam Rajesh and W. Rajesh Singh.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Yangoupokpi - Lokchao Wildlife Sanctuary (India). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/yangoupokpi--lokchao-wildlife-sanctuary-iba-india on 22/11/2024.