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Source: The post is based on the article “Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary: Tiger spotted at record high elevation of 3,640m in Sikkim” published in “Hindustan Times” on 9th December 2023
Why in the News?
A tiger has been spotted at an elevation of 3,640 meters in the Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary in Sikkim.
This marks the highest elevation in India where tigers have been observed, surpassing the previous record of 3,630 meters in Arunachal Pradesh.
What is Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary?
| Specifications | Details |
| Location | Sikkim |
| Geographical Features | 1) The sanctuary is situated at the tri-junction of Sikkim, Bengal and Bhutan. 2) The Pangolakha range in the east separates Sikkim from Bhutan. |
| National Park | The sanctuary is linked to Neora Valley National Park of West Bengal, forests of Samtse and Haa district in Bhutan. |
| Significance | It is the largest wildlife sanctuary in Sikkim. |
| Vegetation | Alpine-temperate-subtropical |
| Lakes | Features high-altitude lakes like Lake Tsongmo, a biodiversity hotspot for migratory birds. |
| Rivers | Rivers like Rangpo and Jaldhaka originate from nearby lakes within the sanctuary. |
| Flora | Rhododendrons, silver fir, juniper and moss-covered oaks. |
| Fauna | The sanctuary is home to Red Panda (Sikkim’s state animal), Himalayan Black Bear, Musk Deer among others. |
| Eco-regions | The sanctuary encompasses various eco-regions like Terai-Duar savanna, Eastern Himalayan broadleaf forests, Himalayan subtropical pine forests among others. |
UPSC Syllabus: Wildlife Sanctuary in news
