• Jan 25 2016
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Yangoupokpi - Lokchao Wildlife Sanctuary

Founded in 1989, this wildlife sanctuary covers an area of 185 sq km .Sprawling over a large area of 185 sq km, Yangoupokpi-Lokchao Wildlife Sanctuary is reckoned to be one of the nine Important Bird Areas (IBA) in Manipur. Moreover, at present, the sanctuary is also serving as dwelling land of seven forest villages. For wildlife buffs, this wildlife sanctuary in Manipur boasts a large variety of wildlife species, both flora and fauna. Currently, Yangoupokpi-Lokchao Wildlife Sanctuary has 29 species of reptiles, 42 mammalian species, 6 species of amphibians, 86 species of fishes and 74 species of avifauna. Of all those wild animals, Hoolock, Himalayan Black Bear, Slow Loris, Serow, Malayan Sun Bear, Common Otter, Pangolin, Stump tailed Macaque, Leopard and Indian Civet Cat are some popular mammals in the wildlife sanctuary. Similarly, in the reptilian species, there are buff striped keelback, peacock marked turtle, tawny cat snake, diard’s blind snake and Himalayan keelback are few famous wild creatures which you can expect to spot while in the vicinity of Yangoupokpi-Lokchao Wildlife Sanctuary.Being a major wildlife tourist destination in Manipur, the sanctuary does not stop here from delighting tourists; it also houses a rich species of fishes including the endangered cyprinid fish like mahseers and Val. In Yangoupokpi-Lokchao Wildlife Sanctuary, Lokchao Lake is a prime habitat of these fishes, mainly the mahseers. Another delight for wildlife buffs is that the sanctuary provides a major habitat centre in Manipur for various bird species. These include green peafowl, Manipur bush-quail, Kalij pheasant, grey peacock-pheasant, oriented pie hornbill, weathered hornbill. Besides, Indian myna, Burmese red turtle dove, Jungle myna, Burmese ring dove, Collared myna, Gray headed myna, Burmese pied myna and Spotted dove. Moving onto flora section of the division of the sanctuary, there houses tectona grandis, Bauhinia spp, cedrela serrat, melanorrhoea usitata, terminalia chebula, quercus spp and emblica officinalis, and more such enthralling floral species.