Neora Valley National Park

Neora Valley National Park is situated in the Kalimpong district, West Bengal, India and was established in 1986. It spreads over an area of 88 km² and is one of the richest biological zones in the entire Eastern India. It is the land of the elegant red panda in the pristine undisturbed natural habitat with rugged inaccessible hilly terrain and rich diverse flora and fauna making this park an important wilderness zone.[1]

Neora Valley National Park
IUCN category II (national park)
A view of Neora Valley National Park
LocationKalimpong district, West Bengal, India
Nearest cityKalimpong
Coordinates27°04′N 88°42′E
Area88 km2 (34 sq mi)
Established1986
Governing bodyGovernment of India, Government of West Bengal

Geography
Neora River, West Bengal.

Neora Valley National Park covers an area of 88 km2 (34 sq mi) with an elevation of 183–3,200 m (600–10,499 ft).[2] The highest point is Rachela Danda. The forest in Neora Valley has such luxurious growth that even sunlight finds it difficult to touch the ground. Much of the park is still inaccessible, making it an adventurous place for the nature lovers/trekkers who can take the challenge to explore the still-unknown terrain in the Kalimpong hills. Virgin natural forests, dense bamboo groves, colourful canopy of Rhododendron trees, lush green valley, meandering rivers and streams with snowcapped mountains in the backdrop form a picturesque landscape.It borders Sikkim and Bhutan. The Neora River is the major water source for Kalimpong town.

Biodiversity
A stream in Neora Valley National Park
Forest in Neora Valley National Park

Avian fauna listed from this park are of A1, A2 and A3 categories with IBA site code IN-WB-06.[3]

The primary biomes inside Neora Vally National Park are:

Flora

Neora Valley sustains a unique ecosystem where tropical, sub-tropical, sub-temperate, and temperate vegetative system still harbours a wealth of flora and fauna. The forests consists of mixed species like rhododendron, bamboo, oak, ferns, sal, etc. The valley also has numerous species of orchids.

Fauna
Red panda
Hoary-throated barwing (Actinodura nipalensis)
Maroon-backed accentor (Prunella immaculata)

Mammals reported from this area are Indian leopard, five viverrid species, Asiatic black bear, sloth bear, Asian golden cat, wild boar, leopard cat, goral, serow, barking deer, sambar deer, flying squirrel and tahr, red panda, clouded leopard.[4]

The semi-evergreen forests between 1600 m and 2700 m host rufous-throated partridge, satyr tragopan, crimson-breasted woodpecker, Darjeeling woodpecker, bay woodpecker, golden-throated barbet, Hodgson's hawk cuckoo, lesser cuckoo, brown wood owl, ashy wood pigeon, mountain imperial pigeon, Jerdon's baza, black eagle, mountain hawk eagle, dark-throated thrush, rufous-gorgeted flycatcher, white-gorgeted flycatcher, white-browed bush robin, white-tailed robin, yellow-browed tit, striated bulbul, chestnut-headed tesia, chestnut-crowned warbler, black-faced warbler, black-faced laughingthrush, chestnut-crowned laughingthrush, streak-breasted scimitar babbler, scaly-breasted cupwing, pygmy cupwing, rufous-fronted babbler, black-headed shrike babbler, white-browed shrike babbler, rusty-fronted barwing, rufous-winged fulvetta, brown parrotbill, fire-breasted flowerpecker, fire-tailed sunbird, maroon-backed accentor, dark-breasted rosefinch, red-headed bullfinch, gold-naped finch.

Reptilian fauna includes King cobra, common krait, green pit viper, blind snake, lizards etc. It is a heaven for Entomologists as well; many colorful insects such as butterflies, moths, beetles, bees, wasps, bugs and cicadas are added attractions of the valley.

References
  1. Codrops. "WildBengal". www.wildbengal.com. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  2. Mallick, J. K. (2012). "Mammals of Kalimpong Hills, Darjeeling District, West Bengal, India". Journal of Threatened Taxa. 4 (12): 3103–3136.
  3. , West Bengal IBA categories Page-2.
  4. , IBAs in West Bengal – Page 20.
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