imported>WikiCleanerBot: v2.04b - Bot T20 CW#61 - Fix errors for CW project (Reference before punctuation)

2021-05-26T17:08:06Z

v2.04b - Bot T20 CW#61 - Fix errors for CW project (Reference before punctuation)

New page

{{Use Indian English|date=February 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2015}}
{{Infobox protected area
| name = Nokrek National Park
| alt_name = Nokrek Biosphere Reserve
| iucn_category = II
| photo =
| photo_alt =
| photo_caption =
| photo_width =
| map = India Meghalaya#India
| map_alt =
| map_caption =
| map_width =
| location = [[West Garo Hills district]], [[Meghalaya]], India
| nearest_city = Williamnagar, Tura
| coords = {{coord|25|32|N|90|7|E|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| coords_ref =
| area_km2 = 47.48
| established = 1986
| visitation_num =
| visitation_year =
| governing_body =
| world_heritage_site =
| url =
}}
'''Nokrek National Park''', the core area of '''Nokrek Biosphere Reserve''', is a [[national park]] located at approximately 2 km away from Tura Peak in [[West Garo Hills district]] of [[Meghalaya]], [[India]]. [[UNESCO]] added the Nokrek Biosphere Reserve to its list of [[Biosphere Reserve]]s in May 2009.<ref name="sify-br">{{cite news|url=http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?a=jf1u4rjejdc&title=Three_Indian_sites_added_to_UNESCO_list_of_biosphere_reserves|title=Three Indian sites added to UNESCO list of biosphere reserves|date=27 May 2009|publisher=Sify|access-date=2009-05-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028175430/http://www.sify.com/news/fullstory.php?a=jf1u4rjejdc&title=Three_Indian_sites_added_to_UNESCO_list_of_biosphere_reserves|archive-date=28 October 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="ens">{{cite news|url=http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/may2009/2009-05-27-01.asp|title=UNESCO Designates 22 New Biosphere Reserves|date=27 May 2009 |publisher=Environment News Service|access-date=2009-05-30}}</ref> Along with [[Balpakram|the Balpakram]] national park in South Garo Hills, Nokrek is a hotspot of biodiversity in Meghalaya.<ref>Choudhury, A.U. (2003). Meghalaya's vanishing wilderness. ''Sanctuary Asia'' 23(5): 30-35.</ref> Established in 1986. The National Park area comprising around 47.48 square kilometres is looked after by the Northern Nokrek and the Southern Nokrek Ranges of the Meghalaya State Forest Department under the administrative control of the Government of Meghalaya, India.

== Fauna and flora ==
The Nokrek region has a remnant population of the [[red panda]] that has generated curiosity across the world, one of which was accidentally shot by Dr J. Lao in 1960s.<ref>Choudhury, A.U. (1996). Red panda in Garo Hills. ''Environ'' IV(I): 21.</ref><ref>Choudhury, A.U. (2001). An overview of the status and conservation of the red panda ''Ailurus fulgens'' in India, with reference to its global status. ''Oryx'' 35(3):250-259.</ref> However apart from that lone sighting, there has never been any more sightings of the red panda in recent years. The Nokrek area is also an important habitat of the [[Asian elephant]].<ref>Choudhury, A.U. (1999). Status and conservation of the Asian elephant ''Elephas maximus'' in north-eastern India. ''Mammal Review'' 29(3): 141-173.</ref> The park had eight species of cats, ranging from the Royal Bengal tiger to [[marbled cat]] but the current status of the first is uncertain.<ref>Choudhury, A.U. (2003). The cats in North East India. ''Cat News'' 39:15-19.</ref>

There are seven species of primates in Nokrek. The rare [[stump-tailed macaque]] is frequently seen near the main trek to the peak.<ref>Choudhury, A.U. (2002). Status and conservation of the stump-tailed macaque ''Macaca arctoides'' in India. ''Primate Report''. 63: 63-72.</ref> The [[pig-tailed macaque]] also occurs.<ref>Choudhury, A.U. (2003). The pig-tailed macaque ''Macaca nemestrina'' in India - status and conservation. ''Primate Conservation'' 19:91-94.</ref> [[Hoolock|The Western Hoolock gibbon]] are common and their calls could be heard all over Nokrek.<ref>Choudhury, A.U. (2006). The distribution and status of hoolock gibbon, ''Hoolock hoolock'', in Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram
and Nagaland in Northeast India. ''Primate Conservation'' 20: 79-87.</ref>

The Nokrek region is also an Important Bird Area.<ref>Islam, Z. & rahmani, A. (2004). IBAs in India. BNHS & BirdLife Int., Mumbai & Cambridge</ref><ref>Choudhury, A.U. (2010). Nokrek national park – an IBA in Meghalaya. ''Mistnet'' 11 (1): 7-8.</ref>

There is a vast range of [[plant]]s found in the park. A huge canopy of thick, tall and lush green forests cover Nokrek and its environment. The mother germoplasm of ''[[Citrus indica]]'' (locally known as ''Memang Narang'') have been discovered by science researchers within Nokrek Range. This discovery led to the establishment of the National Citrus Gene Sanctuary-cum-Biosphere Reserve covering an area of forty-seven square kilometres. The area has wild varieties of citrus fruits that provide a gene-pool for commercially produced citrus.

== Geography ==
The entire Biosphere Reserve is hilly. The rock is mainly [[gneiss]]es, [[granulite]]s, [[migmatite]]s, [[amphibolite]]s and [[banded iron formation]], intruded by basis and ultra-basic bodies. In most of the Biosphere Reserve area the soil is red loam. But sometimes it varies from clayey to sandy loam. The soils in the Biosphere Reserve are rich in organic matter and nitrogen but deficient in phosphate and potash. The area consists of patchy sedimentary rock composed of pebble bed, sandstone, and carbonaceous shales.

All important rivers and streams of the Garo Hills region rise from the Nokrek Range, of which the river Simsang, known as Someshwari when it emerges into Bangladesh at Baghmara, is the most prominent.

== Notable sites ==
Notable sites in the park include the Nokrek Peak and the mat'cha nok'pante ( meeting places of tiger). The Balpakram National Park and [[Siju Cave]] is located close to the Napak Lake near the Simsang River game reserve which is south east to Nokrek National Park. The cave is filled with water and is miles long.

== ''See also'' ==
* [[Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* Management Action Plan of Nokrek National Park for 2012-13 to 2016-17 published by the Divisional Forest Officer, East & West Garo Hills Wildlife Division, Tura

== External links ==
* [http://www.wiienvis.nic.in/Database/Meghalaya_7831.aspx "Protected Area Gazette Notification Database (Meghalaya)"]{{registration required}}
* [http://www.wiienvis.nic.in/Database/Protected_Area_Gazette_Notification_Database_7813.aspx]{{registration required}}
* [http://www.webindia123.com/wildlife/parks/megha.htm WebIndia123 - National parks of Meghalaya]

{{National Parks of India|state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:National parks in Meghalaya]]
[[Category:Biosphere reserves of India]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Meghalaya]]
[[Category:West Garo Hills district]]
[[Category:1986 establishments in Meghalaya]]
[[Category:Protected areas established in 1986]]

Nokrek National Park - Revision history

imported>WikiCleanerBot: v2.04b - Bot T20 CW#61 - Fix errors for CW project (Reference before punctuation)