Fakim Wildlife Sanctuary

Fakim Wildlife Sanctuary
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
Interactive map of Fakim Wildlife Sanctuary
LocationNagaland, India
Nearest cityKiphire
Coordinates25°49′32″N 94°57′16″E / 25.825528°N 94.954389°E / 25.825528; 94.954389
Established1983
Governing bodyDepartment of Forests, Environment, and Climate Change, Government of Nagaland

Fakim Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area in Nagaland, India. It is situated close to the India-Myanmar border in Pungro circle of Kiphire district, and covers an area of 642 ha (1,590 acres).[1] Fakim village is the gateway to the sanctuary.[2] It was established in 1983.

History

The Fakim Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1983.[3]

The state's Department of Forest, Environment, and Climate Change, manages the sanctuary along with other wildlife sanctuaries such as Ntangki National Park, Singphan Wildlife Sanctuary, Pulie Badze Wildlife Sanctuary,[4] and Nagaland Zoological Park.

Geography

The sanctuary is part of the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot. Its altitude ranges from 1700-3000m above sea level.[5]

Biology

The sanctuary has a rich biodiversity.[6] The terrain consists of hills, high ridges, green meadows, deep gorges and narrow valleys.[1] It is composed of thick virgin primary forest of wet temperate to sub-alpine types.[5]

Flora

In 2017 a research noted 60 tree species, from 40 genera and 27 families. Amongst these, species from lauraceae and rosaceae families were the most dominant.[5] The sanctuary is thick with oak, Khasi pine, hollock, nahor, kachnar, cane and bamboo.[7] Cinnamomum zeylanicum and Lithocarpus pachyphyllus, Betula alnoides are some of the most abundant plants in the sanctuary.[5]

Efforts are also underway for the conservation planting of Cephalotaxus mannii, native to the region.[8]

Fauna

The sanctuary is home to slender loris, panthers, Himalayan bears, jungle cats, barking deers and hoolock gibbons.[1][9] Chinese goral and leaf muntjaci are also found here.[5] Sumatran rhino and tigers were once found here.[10]

Bird species in the sanctuary include great hornbills, tragopans, junglefowls and doves.[1][11] The state bird, Blyth's tragopan, also live here.[12][13][14] It is estimated that the sanctuary has more tragopans than elsewhere in the state.[15] Though rare, Mrs. Hume's pheasant, the state bird of Manipur and Mizoram, have been sighted here.[16] Few instances of the scaly laughingthrush, Tibetan serin, and Alpine accentor have also been noted in and around the sanctuary.[17] Other avian species include the bay woodpecker, and wedge-tailed green pigeon.[5]

Several snake species are also found in the sanctuary. In 2010 Bella rat snake (Maculophis bella) was seen for the first time, expanding the previously known habitat from northern Myanmar to western Yunnan province in China.[18]

Climate

The sanctuary receives rainfall between 200 and 300cm every year. The temperature drops to 5°C in winters and can be as warm as 29°C in summers.[5]

Conservation efforts

Nagaland government has encouraged conservation initiatives including hunting bans.[19][20][21] Campaigns by NGOs and activists are also key to the fledgling conservation efforts.[21][22][8] Fakim village has resolved to keep additional 384 ha of community land for the ‘Fakim Village Tragopan Conservation Reserve.’[10]

In 2019, Alemba Yimchunger, a forest guard at the sanctuary was recognised with Earth Day Network Star. He has worked for over 30 years in protecting the flora and fauna of the sanctuary.[23] He joined the state's forest department as a camp guide. Previously in 2018 he also received a grant from Sanctuary Nature Foundation. Balipara Foundation, another NGO working in Northeast India, bestowed on him the Forest Rangers and Guards of The Eastern Himalayas Award.[10]

Recreation

Vongtsuwong village is a popular entry point into the sanctuary. The village has around 20 households and is located at an elevation of approximately 2000m.[24] Fakim village is on the hill below the sanctuary and houses 70 families.[10] Thanamir village is also adjacent to the sanctuary.[24]

The nearest airport to Pungro is Dimapur Airport,[1] approximately 320km away by road. As of 2024, the state government's helicopter service from Dimapur to Pungro is available once a week on Wednesdays. The flying time is 45 minutes, and the subsidised adult ticket costs ₹2925.[25]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Fakim Wild Life Sanctuary". Kiphire District, Government of Nagaland. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
  2. ^ "'A Photographic Guide to Birds of Fakim' by Leyamong L released". Morung Express. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
  3. ^ Negi, Sharad Singh (1991). Handbook of National Parks, Sanctuaries, and Biosphere Reserves in India. Indus Publishing Company. ISBN 978-81-85182-59-9.
  4. ^ "Wildlife conservation and management in Nagaland". The Morung Express. 15 January 2019. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Ao, Aosanen; Changkija, Sapu; Tripathi, S. K. (27 May 2020). "Species diversity, population structure, and regeneration status of trees in Fakim Wildlife Sanctuary, Nagaland, Northeast India". Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity. 21 (6): 2777–2785. doi:10.13057/biodiv/d210654. ISSN 2085-4722.
  6. ^ District Human Development Report, 2013: Kiphire. Department of Planning and Coordination, Government of Nagaland. 2014.
  7. ^ Capila, Pranav (22 December 2018). "The Naga hunter who gave up hunting. And made sure his village did too". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
  8. ^ a b "Wildlife body extends financial aid to Nagaland's hunter turned conservationist". Northeast Now. 1 March 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
  9. ^ Kohli, M. S. (2005). Incredible Himalayas: Environment, Culture, Tourism, and Adventure. Indus Publishing. ISBN 978-81-7387-179-5.
  10. ^ a b c d Capila, Pranav (22 December 2018). "The Naga hunter who gave up hunting. And made sure his village did too". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  11. ^ "Wildlife buffs spot rare butterfly 17 times - Group was on an excursion to Fakim sanctuary in Nagaland's Kiphire district bordering Myanmar". Telegraph India.
  12. ^ Jamir, Muzhaba (15 July 2019). "Blyth's tragopan: Plight no more as conservation efforts take flight". Eastern Mirror. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  13. ^ "Nagaland names 5 endangered species for recovery programme". Eastern Mirror. 28 June 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  14. ^ L., Leyamong (2024). A Photographic Guide to Birds of Fakim.
  15. ^ Solo, Thepfulhouvi (30 May 2012). "What can Fakim Wild Sanctuary do for Nagaland?". The Morung Express. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  16. ^ Choudhury, Anwaruddin (2005). "New sites for Mrs Hume's Pheasant Syrmaticus humiae in north-east India based on hunters' specimens and local reports" (PDF). Forktail (now, Journal of Asian Ornithology). 21: 183–186.
  17. ^ Edwards, David P.; Borah, Joli; Yimchunger, Tsuseki Y. (2016). "Nagaland, north-east India: three Himalayan species new to the Naga Hills" (PDF). BirdingAsia. 26: 88–90.
  18. ^ Haralu, Banu (2010). "Nagaland: concerns and challenges" (PDF). Indian Birds. 6 (2): 56–57.
  19. ^ Dey, Kallol (29 April 2019). "Nagaland hunts for a way out of its bloody tradition, shows some success". The Indian Express. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
  20. ^ "Governor's Award Honours Community Conservation And Social Activism". Nagaland Page. 26 January 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
  21. ^ a b "Protection & conservation of wildlife 'burning need of the hour': Nagaland CM". The Morung Express. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
  22. ^ PTI (8 October 2022). "Kiphire: PCCF & HoFF visits Penkim and Fakim villages". Nagaland Tribune. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
  23. ^ "Earth Day award for Nagaland forest guard". The Hindu. 29 March 2019. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  24. ^ a b Prakash, Nisarg; Singh, Priya (2012). "Beyond the Last Village". Sanctuary Asia.
  25. ^ "NST notifies on revised schedule for chopper service in Nagaland". The Morung Express. 8 September 2024. p. 1. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
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