Bunning Wildlife Sanctuary (18293)
India, Asia

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 2005

National site name: Bunning Wildlife Sanctuary

Central coordinates: Latitude: 25.0720, Longitude: 93.5308

System: terrestrial

Elevation (m): 1000 to 1800

Area of KBA (km²): 165.66311

KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: Bunning Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Tamei subdivision in Tamenglong district, and is part of the Barail Range. The Barak river flows near the Sanctuary. Many streams originate from the catchment areas within the Sanctuary and feed the Barak. Tropical Evergreen and Semi-evergreen Forests occur in the Sanctuary. The site is poorly known and should be given priority for a biodiversity survey.

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) KBA identified in the CEPF Ecosystem Profile of the Eastern Himalayas Hotspot (2005). Taxonomy, nomenclature and threat category follow the 2002 IUCN Red List.

Additional biodiversity: AVIFAUNA: Detailed information on avifauna from this sanctuary is lacking. However, some of the biome restricted species are as follows (A. U. Choudhury pers comm. 2003): Rufous-bellied Niltava Niltava sundara, Brown Hornbill Anorrhinus tickelli, Goldenthroated Barbet Megalaima franklinii, Blue-throated Barbet M. asiatica, Bay Woodpecker Blythipicus pyrrhotis, Maroon Oriole Oriolus traillii, Himalayan Treepie Dendrocitta formosae, Whitethroated Bulbul Alophoixus flaveolus, Grey Peacock-pheasant Polyplectron bicalcaratum, and Pale-headed Woodpecker Gecinulus grantia. Among the globally threatened species, the Rufous-necked Hornbill Aceros nipalensis is found (A. U. Choudhury pers. comm. 2003). Another bird of conservation interest is the Grey Sibia Heterophasia gracilis, considered to be a restricted range species by Stattersfield et al. (1998). This IBA is included in the Eastern Himalayas Endemic Bird Area. This part of the Himalaya is particularly rich in restricted range birds, and the genus Sphenocichla is endemic to it. Detailed investigation would reveal many important species. OTHER KEY FAUNA: The Sanctuary has most of the mammalian elements of the northeast, such as the Tiger Panthera tigris, Asian Elephant Elephas maximus, Gaur Bos frontalis, Asiatic Black Bear Ursus thibetanus and Dhole or Wild Dog Cuon alpinus. Among nonhuman primates, Hoolock Gibbon Hylobates hoolock, Assamese Macaque Macaca assamensis, and Capped Langur Trachypithecus pileatus are noteworthy. Not much is known about the reptiles and amphibians.

Habitats

Land use: agriculture | forestry

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Forest	100

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Community conflict and establishment of villages within the Sanctuary area have caused damage to the Sanctuary.

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Residential & commercial development	Housing & urban areas		Ongoing

Additional information

References: Stattersfield, A. J., Crosby, M. J., Long, A. J. and Wege, D. C. (1998) Endemic Bird Areas of the World: Priorities for Biodiversity Conservation. BirdLife Conservation Series No. 7. BirdLife International, U.K.