Manas Wildlife Sanctuary

Manas Wildlife Sanctuary Nakiya Reese Axia College of University of Phoenix Final Manas Wildlife Sanctuary, also known as Manas National Park, is nestled in the foothills of the Himalaya Mountains. In the Wildlife Sanctuary which is approximately 360 square kilometers, is rich in grasslands and tropical forests. Not only is the scenery beautiful, but this is a home to not only plants, but many endangered animals. Manas Wildlife Sanctuary is home to many species such as: tigers, wild buffalos, Indian bison’s, rhinos, and elephants. In 1992 it was placed on the UNESCO’s List of World Heritage for wilds’ protection and preserving. This paper will address the diversity of the flora and fauna in the area, human intrusions that threaten the area, and efforts made to protect Manas Wildlife Sanctuary, with much more included. Manas biogeographically diversity constitutes three major plant life varieties that include semi-evergreen forest, mixed moist and dry deciduous forests, and several types of grassland (United Nations Environment Programme, 2002). As the Web site shows, grasslands occupy approximately 45% of the park divided by two types of grassland: semi-evergreen alluvial grassland and low alluvial savanna woodland. These are some of the common trees specific for Manas’ flora: Bauhinia purpurea,_ Anthocephalus chinensis_, and Cinnamomum tamala from the semi-evergreen north part of the park, and Sterculia _villosa, Trewia polycarpa, and Oroxylum indiums _from the mixed part of the forests (United Nations Environment Programme, 2002). Forty-three different grass species, three hundred and seventy-four species of dicotyledons, including eighty-nine trees, one hundred thirty nine species of monocotyledons and fifteen species of orchid have been identified. A few plants found are:

{draw:frame} {draw:frame} {draw:frame} There have been fifty five mammals, fifty reptiles, and three amphibians recorded in the sanctuary. There are many

References: Benn, J. (2008). A tale of two places-restoring rhinos to their ranges in Assam, India. Retrieved April 8, 2010, from http://www.panda.org/news_facts/newsroom/features/index.cfm?uNewsID=131281 Periodic Reporting Exercise on the Application of the World Heritage Convention. Retrieved April 8, 2010, from whc.unesco.org/archive/periodicreporting/apa/cycle01/section2/338.pdf Travel in India. (N.D.). Wildlife National Park of India. Retrieved April 8, 2010, from http://www.indiavisitinformation.com/india-tour/india-wildlife-tour/manas-tiger- reserve.shtml UNESCO.org. (2008). World Heritage. Manas Wildlife Sanctuary. Retrieved April 9, 2010, from http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/338 United Nations Environment Programme. (2002). World Conservation Monitoring Centre. Manas National Park, Assam-India. Retrieved April 9, 2010, from http://www.unep-wcmc.org/sites/wh/manas.html