Deva Vatala National Park
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (August 2021) |
| Deva Vatala National Park | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Coordinates | 32°54′09″N 74°21′45″E / 32.90250°N 74.36250°E |
| Opened | 1998 |
Deva-Vatala National Park is a protected area in Bhimber District, Azad Kashmir, Pakistan.[1] It is located close to the Indian border and aligns with the district of Gujrat.[2] The park is one of the few protected areas in Azad Kashmir to be located in a thorn forest. It is home to some of the most diverse wildlife, including the only population of Red Junglefowl, in Pakistan.[3]
History[edit]
This national park was notified in 1998 and spreads over an area of 7,000 hectares which is around 29km2.[2] It was part of India until 1971.
Geography[edit]
The park is an important hotspot for biodiversity and has many lakes which attract waterfowl. It is a hilly area with a maximum height of 1,101m above sea level. It is part of the Lower Himalayan Range, and is mainly covered by tropical thorn forest.
Flora[edit]
The forest is mainly tropical thorn covered by Acacia and many evergreen trees with diverse shrub growth. The climate is mainly sem-arid.
Fauna[edit]
Deva Vatala National Park is home to many mammals, birds and reptiles.
Mammals in the park include:
- Indian leopard, "P.p.fusca"
- Golden jackal, C. a. indica
- Indian grey mongoose, H. e. edwardsii
- Small Indian civet, V. indica
- Cape hare, L. c. isabellinus
- Wild boar, S. s. scrofa
- Nilgai, B. tragocamelus
- Hog deer, A. porcinus
- Indian porcupine, H. i. blandfordi
Significant birds:
- Indian peafowl, P. cristatus
- Red junglefowl, G. gallus[1]
- Black francolin, F. francolinus
- Grey francolin, F. pondicerianus
- Mallard, A. platyrhynchos
- Northern shoveler, S. clypeata
- Eurasian coot, F. atra
Reptiles:
- Indian python, P. molurus
- King cobra, O. hannah
- Bengal monitor, V. bengalensis
References[edit]
- ^ a b Subhani, A.; Awan, M. S.; Anwar, M.; Ali, U.; Dar, N. I. (2010). "Population status and distribution pattern of red jungle fowl (Gallus gallus Murghi) in Deva Vatala National Park, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan: A pioneer study". Pakistan Journal of Zoology (Pakistan). ISSN 0030-9923.
- ^ a b "Deva Vatala National Park · Dewa Road". Deva Vatala National Park · Dewa Road. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
- ^ Umar, Muhammad; Hussain, Mubashar; Malik, Muhammad Faheem; Awan, Muhammad Naeem; Lee, David C. (2021). "Avian Community Composition and Spatio-Temporal Patterns at Deva Vatala National Park, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan". Pakistan Journal of Zoology. 53 (3). doi:10.17582/journal.pjz/20190711190734. ISSN 0030-9923. S2CID 226543498.
