Kyaikhtiyo Wildlife Sanctuary

Kyaikhtiyo Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area in Myanmar, stretching over 156.21 km2 (60.31 sq mi).[1] It covers evergreen and mixed deciduous forests an elevation of 50–1,090 m (160–3,580 ft) in Kyaikto Township. It was established in 2001 to conserve the biodiversity around the Kyaiktiyo Pagoda, a famous pilgrimage site in Mon State.[2]

Kyaikhtiyo Wildlife Sanctuary
Map showing the location of Kyaikhtiyo Wildlife Sanctuary
Map showing the location of Kyaikhtiyo Wildlife Sanctuary
Location in Myanmar
LocationKyaikto Township, Mon State, Myanmar
Nearest cityKyaikhto
Coordinates17°28′00″N 97°05′00″E
Area156.21 km2 (60.31 sq mi)[1]
Established2001
Visitors1000000 (in 2014)
Governing bodyMyanmar Forest Department

It is managed by the Nature and Wildlife Conservation Division.[3]

Biodiversity

The Indo-Pacific gecko (Hemidactylus garnotii) occurs in the sanctuary.[4] In 2001, the bent-toed gecko Cyrtodactylus aequalis was discovered in the sanctuary and described as a new species in 2003.[5]

Key wildlife species are leopard (Panthera pardus), serow (Capricornis milneedwardsiiare), red goral (Naemorhedus baileyi).[2] Sambar deer (Rusa unicolor), Indian muntjac (Muntiacus muntjak), gaur (Bos gaurus), wild boar (Sus scrofa) are also said to occur in the sanctuary.[6]

Threats

Kyaikhtiyo Wildlife Sanctuary is threatened by illegal logging, harvesting of fire wood and hunting of wildlife for subsistence.[2]

References
  1. World Database on Protected Areas (2019). "Kyeikhtiyoe Wildlife Sanctuary". Protected Planet.
  2. Beffasti, L.; Gallanti, V., eds. (2011). "Kyaikhtiyo". Myanmar Protected Areas: Context, Current Status and Challenges (PDF). Milano, Yangon: Istituto Oikos, Biodiversity and Nature Conservation Association. pp. 46–47.
  3. Lazarus, K. M.; Cardinale, P.; Corbett, M.; Lin, N. S.; Noeske, T. K. H. (2017). "Baseline Assessment Report of Terrestrial Biodiversity" (PDF). Strategic Environmental Assessment of the Hydropower Sector in Myanmar. Washington, D.C.: International Finance Corporation.
  4. Zug, G. R.; Vindum, J. V.; Koo, M. S. (2007). "Burmese Hemidactylus (Reptilia, Squamata, Gekkonidae): taxonomic notes on tropical Asian Hemidactylus". Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences. 58 (19): 387–405.
  5. Bauer, A. M. (2003). "Descriptions of seven new Cyrtodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) with a key to the species of Myanmar (Burma)" (PDF). Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences. 54 (25): 463–498. S2CID 129933095. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-12-20.
  6. Johnson, S.; Bowman, V.; Makusheva, I. & Wachenfeld, M. (2018). Biodiversity in Myanmar, including Protected Areas and Key Biodiversity Areas. Supplement to Briefing Paper on Biodiversity, Human Rights and Business (PDF). Yangon, Myanmar: Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business.
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