Talra Wildlife Sanctuary (18170)
India, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2004
National site name: Talra Wildlife Sanctuary
Central coordinates: Latitude: 31.0278, Longitude: 77.7830
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 1500 to 3324
Area of KBA (km2): 37.60886
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Talra Wildlife Sanctuary was first notified in 1962 and then renotified in 1974, under the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972. During the British period, and for almost two decades after Independence, it was a popular hunting area for big game as well as birds. Hunters used to come here for Asiatic Black Bear Ursus thibetanus, Barking Deer Muntiacus muntjak and pheasants. Charachers hunted Musk Deer Moschus chrysogaster. In order to protect these animals, and also to protect the catchment areas of perennial streams, this Sanctuary came into existence. However, due to the growth in human population, very few areas are now left undisturbed. Only steep and inaccessible areas harbour natural forest and wildlife (Singh et al. 1990). Two main forest types seen here are: West Himalayan Upper Oak/ Fir Forest and Lower Western Himalayan Temperate Forest, according to the classification of Champion and Seth (1968).
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas)
Additional biodiversity: AVIFAUNA: The globally threatened Cheer Pheasant Catreus wallichii and Western Tragopan Tragopan melanocephalus are seen in small numbers, while Himalayan or Impeyan Monal Lophophorus impejanus and Koklass Pucrasia macrolopha are fairly common. Mahabal (2000) has identified 61 species from this Sanctuary. Fifty-one are resident birds, most of them quite common. The site lies in Biome-7 (Sino-Himalayan Temperate Forest) and Biome-8 (Sino-Himalayan Subtropical Forest). Birds of both these biomes were seen but most birds belong to Biome-7. Biome-7 occurs between c. 1,800 m to 3,600 m, which is also the range of this site (1,500 - 3,324 m). Biome-8 ranges from c. 1,000 m to 2,000 m so for some altitudinal range, both these biomes overlap. Moreover, many species show altitudinal movement so it is not unexpected that they are seen in different biomes. At this IBA site, 17 species of Biome-7, 5 species of Biome-8 and one species of Biome-5 (Himalayan Griffon Gyps himalayensis) are found. This IBA lies in the Western Himalayas Endemic Bird Areas (EBA). Two restricted range species are found, both happen to be also globally threatened birds (BirdLife International 2001). OTHER KEY FAUNA: Asiatic Black Bear Ursus thibetanus and Leopard Panthera pardus are the major predators on Barking Deer Muntiacus muntjak, Musk deer Moschus chrysogaster and Goral Nemorhaedus goral. Common Langur Semnopithecus entellus is common, especially at lower elevations.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | forestry | rangeland/pastureland | urban/industrial/transport
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 100 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: MAIN THREATS: Grazing; Poaching; Tree felling. Biotic pressure in this IBA is extremely high. There is one village inside the Sanctuary and seven on the periphery, with a total population of more than 5,000. Villagers have rights and leases for grazing, collection of Non-Timber Forest Produce, fuelwood and medicinal plants. Graziers (gujjars) from outside also come to this area. All this puts great pressure on the limited resources of this small sanctuary.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Nomadic grazing | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Intentional use (species being assessed is the target) | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Gathering terrestrial plants | Unintentional effects (species being assessed is not the target) | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Logging & wood harvesting | Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Residential & commercial development | Housing & urban areas | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: BirdLife International (2001) Threatened Birds of Asia: The BirdLife International Red Data Book. BirdLife International, Cambridge, U.K. Champion, H. G. and Seth, S. K. (1968) A revised survey of forest types of India, Govt. of India Press, Delhi. Pp. 403. Mahabal, A (2000) Birds of Talra Wildlife sanctuary in Lower Western Himalaya, H.P., with notes on their status and altitudinal movements. Zoo’s Print Journal 15(10): 334-338. Singh, S., Kothari, A. and Pande, P. (Eds) (1990) Directory of national parks and sanctuaries in Himachal Pradesh: management status and profiles. Indian Institute of Public Administration, New Delhi. Pp 164.