Wildlife

Fakim Wildlife Sanctuary is approximately eight km away from the main town of Zunheboto and is located close to the Indo-Myanmar border. Spread over an area of 6.4 sq. km, this sanctuary is home to wildlife such as tigers, hoolock gibbons and the tragopan pheasants. Tourists need to take a special permission from the State Forest Department for visiting this sanctuary.

The nearest airport from the Fakim Wildlife Sanctuary is present in Kohima, the state capital. The Fakim Wildlife Sanctuary in Nagaland is located very close to the Myanmar border. In Nagaland, the sanctuary is situated in the Pungro circle headquarter. Rare species of flora and fauna exist here.

Ghosu Bird Sanctuary, which is situated at a distance of eight km from Zunheboto district headquarters, is home to a wide range of avifauna. Tourists visiting the bird sanctuary can spot more than twenty types of endangered birds species. During the months of June through September, several migratory birds can be seen in the sanctuary.

Rangapahar Reserve Forest covers an area of around 49.4 acres. The place is visited by many tourists, especially nature lovers as it is home to many birds and animals.

Zoological Park, situated around 6 km away from Dimapur, covers an area of around 434.90 acres. The park was established on 28th August 2008 with an aim to spread awareness about the fauna and flora. The park serves as the Conservation Centre for the entire region of Northern India.

The Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary is situated on the northern Lachung Valley, at an altitude ranging between 3,048 m and 4,575 m. The sanctuary covers an area of around 43 sq km. There are about 40 different species of rhododendron shrubs amidst the snow-covered mountains.

Some of the important trees in the sanctuary are primulas, poppies, gentians, potentillas, saxifrages and aconites. There are a few endangered animals inhabiting the sanctuary like the spotted lingsang or the tiger-civet. The ideal season to visit this sanctuary is between the months of November and mid-June.

Khangchendzonga National Park, located in the North Sikkim District, is a national park and a biosphere reserve. Earning its name from the mountain Kanchenjunga, this park spreads over an area of 849.5 sq km.

The park is home to many mammal species and around 550 bird species. Mammals that can be spotted in this national park are musk deer, Himalayan tahr, Tibetan wild ass and wild dog, among others.

Himalayan Zoological Park, located at a distance of 3 km from Gangtok, is one of the best places for wildlife lovers. Situated in Bulbuley, the park has been established with the aim to preserve wildlife in natural habitat. Sprawling over an area of 205 hectares, the Zoological Park is at an altitude of 1,780 metre from where beautiful view of Mount Kanchenjunga can also be enjoyed.

It is the first park of its kind in the entire north-eastern part of India, which was established in 1991. The animals residing in this park are kept in replicated natural conditions. Most part of this park is covered with forests of Red Panda, Blue Sheep, Musk Deer, Barking Deer and Himalayan Black Bear.

Fambong La Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the best places to observe the wild animals. It is located at a distance of around 20 km from Gangtok. Sprawling over an area of 51.76 sq km, this sanctuary is also a home to different species such as Red Panda, Himalayan Beer and Civet Cat Binturong. Dense forests of katus, bamboo, ferns, oak, champ and kimbu also occupy the sanctuary.

In addition, the sanctuary also embraces plenty of rhododendrons and wild orchids. The place is also a home to different types of birds and butterflies, hence regarded as Avifauna. Due to the variance in altitude ranging from 1,280 metre to 2,652 metre, the sanctuary holds diverse flora and fauna.

Dampa Wildlife Sanctuary is considered as one of the oldest and biggest wildlife sanctuaries in the state. The sanctuary was declared as a tiger reserve in 1944 and was notified as a sanctuary in 1985. This sanctuary covers an area of around 550 sq. km and is at a height ranging between 200 and 800 m. The topography of this sanctuary ranges from wet, semi-evergreen to deciduous forest. Geography of this region comprises hills, valleys, river streams and salt licks.

West Phaileng is a town at an elevation of around 1,290 ft above sea level. It is surrounded by dense forest and plantation of teak. The town experiences humid conditions. One of the prime attractions around this town is the Dampa Sanctuary, which lies in the north-west region of the Mizo Hills.

This sanctuary is home to many animals, such as elephant, tiger, Himalayan bear, leopard and sambar deer. Other animals like barking deer, wild boar, wild dog, leopard cat, gaur, king cobra and hoolock gibbon can also be spotted in this sanctuary.