Hirapora Wildlife Sanctuary (18187)
India, Asia

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 2004

National site name: Hirapora Wildlife Sanctuary

Central coordinates: Latitude: 33.7833, Longitude: 74.9667

System: terrestrial

Elevation (m): 2557 to 4745

Area of KBA (km²): 310.69701

KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: Hirapora, a reserved forest within Shopian Forest Division, was notified as a sanctuary in 1987. It lies in the Pir Panjal Range, 70 km south of Srinagar. It is bounded to the north by Lake Gumsar, northeast by Hirapora village, east by Rupri Forest, south by Lake Sanasar and to the west by Pir Panjal Pass. The Sanctuary was set up mainly to protect Markhor Capra falconeri, but it benefits other high altitude wildlife. The slopes are gentle to moderately steep on the eastern side of the Pir Panjal divide, and precipitous, with many cliffs, to the west and south. Five main vegetation types can be distinguished, namely (i) Blue Pine Pinus griffithii forests in dry and exposed aspects, with Silver Fir Abies webbiana and Spruce Picea smithiana; (ii) Silver Fir forests, with Blue Pine and Spruce, which forms the largest component of the vegetation and is confined to cooler, moister aspects; (iii) Evergreen (e.g. Juniperus spp.) or Deciduous (e.g. Rosa spp.) scrub in the middle and lower zones, respectively; (iv) Birch Betula utilis forest, with an understorey of Juniperus spp. and Rhododendron campanulatum; and (v) Alpine meadows; (Department of Wildlife Protection 1987).

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: No work has been done on the avifauna of this important sanctuary. The Department of Wildlife Protection (1987) has listed only 39 bird species, although there could be at least 3 times more. Recently, Rashid Y. Naqaush (pers. comm. 2003) has recorded Himalayan or Impeyan Monal Lophophorus impejanus and Koklass Pheasant Pucrasia macrolopha. Among the globally Threatened species, Kashmir Flycatcher Ficedula subrubra is definitely found here. OTHER KEY FAUNA: Hirapora probably has the largest population of Markhor in Jammu and Kashmir. This is the area of subspecies C. falconeri cashmiriensis (Prater 1980). This subspecies has horns that diverge less, and in old males, show two complete twists or spirals. Before the enactment of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972, Markhor was one of the most prized ‘game animals’ of the State, along with the Goral Nemorhaedus goral. Musk Deer Moschus chrysogaster is also reported from the Sanctuary (R. Y. Naqaush pers. comm. 2003). Brown Bear Ursus arctos is found in the alpine and subalpine regions, while Asiatic Black Bear U. thibetanus is found at lower altitudes and is widespread. Other species are: Red Fox Vulpes vulpes, Common Otter Lutra lutra, Yellow-throated Marten Martes flavigula and Royle’s Pika Ochotona roylei.

Habitats

Land use: agriculture | rangeland/pastureland

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Shrubland	50
Forest	50

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: MAIN THREATS: Over-grazing; Tree cutting; Poaching. Over-grazing by nomadic graziers is the major problem. Illicit tree cutting by the local Dogarwals for domestic use is not such a big problem, but now it has been compounded by deforestation by security forces. Lack of data on wildlife is a major problem. Immediate surveys to document the biodiversity of this sanctuary should be taken up by local NGOs, universities, Forest Department officials and concerned individuals.

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Agriculture & aquaculture	Livestock farming & ranching	Nomadic grazing	Ongoing
Biological resource use	Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals	Intentional use (species being assessed is the target)	Ongoing
Biological resource use	Logging & wood harvesting	Unintentional effects: large scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest]	Ongoing

Additional information