Jaldapara National Park

Jaldapara National Park (Pron: ˌʤʌldəˈpɑ:rə) is a national park situated at the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas in Alipurduar District of northern West Bengal, India, and on the banks of the Torsa River. Jaldapara is situated at an altitude of 61 m and is spread across 216.51 km2 (83.59 sq mi) of vast grassland with patches of riverine forests.[1] It was declared a sanctuary in 1941 for protection of its great variety of flora and fauna.

Jaldapara National Park
An elephant safari through the Jaldapara Sanctuary
Map showing the location of Jaldapara National Park
Map showing the location of Jaldapara National Park
Location in West Bengal, India
LocationAlipurduar District, West Bengal, India
Nearest cityMadarihat/ Birpara
Coordinates26.6909°N 89.2763°E / 26.6909; 89.2763
Area216.51 km2 (83.59 sq mi)
www.jaldaparanationalprk.org

Today, the park has the largest population of the Indian one-horned rhinoceros in the state, an animal threatened with extinction,[2] and is a Habitat management area (Category IV).[3] The nearby Chilapata Forests is an elephant corridor between Jaldapara and the Buxa Tiger Reserve.[4]

History

Toto tribes and Mech Tribes (Bodos) used to stay in this area before 1800. At that time this place was known as "Totopara". Formerly Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary, established in 1941, has been elevated to Jaldapara National Park in May 2014 and is primarily meant for the conservation of the Indian rhinoceros.[5]

Flora and fauna

The forest is mainly savannah covered with tall elephant grasses. The main attraction of the park is the Indian one-horned rhinoceros. The park holds the largest rhino population in India after Kaziranga National Park in Assam. Other animals in the park include Indian leopard, Indian elephant, sambar, barking deer, chital, hog deer, wild boar and gaur. A floristic investigation was made during 2016–2018 to document the tree diversity and their present status in the Jaldapara National Park. A total of 294 species of trees belonging to 189 genera and 63 families, including 4 species of gymnosperms were recorded.[5]

Jaldapara is a paradise for bird watchers. It is one of the very few places in India, where the Bengal florican is sighted. The other birds to be found here are the crested eagle, Pallas's fish eagle, shikra, Finn's weaver, jungle fowl, peafowl (peacock), partridge, and lesser pied hornbill. pythons, monitor lizards, kraits, cobras, geckos, and about eight species of fresh water turtles can also be found here.

References
  1. "National Park status for Jaldapara Sanctuary". Times of India. 2012. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
  2. "Alipurduar Tourism". Alipurduar District Tourism. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
  3. Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary, India
  4. Wildlife Times: Elephants of North Bengal Archived 2011-07-18 at the Wayback Machine
  5. Ghosh, C.; Ghatak, S.; Biswas, K.; Das, A. P. (2021). "Status of tree diversity of the Jaldapara National Park in West Bengal, India". Trees, Forests and People. 3: 100061. doi:10.1016/j.tfp.2020.100061.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Jaldapara.
External video
video icon Rhino at Hollong Tourist Lodge
video icon Jaldapara rhino
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