Buxa Tiger Reserve

Buxa Tiger Reserve is present on the Assam-Bhutan border in the northern part of Bengal, and it covers a total area of 760 km2. The altitude of the Buxa Tiger Reserve is from 61 m to 1750 m. The number of bird species living in this reserve is more than 285. It is famous for dolomite mining. Elephants, Indian bison, leopards, numerous types of deer, and smaller mammals, as well as numerous bird and reptile species, can be found in the park. Buxa is included in biodiversity hotspots and has orchids and plants that are helpful for medicinal purposes. Some areas of the Buxa hills in the Sinchula range remain unexplored because of the inaccessible terrain. In North Bengal, Buxa is one of the oldest settlements. It’s 24 kilometres from Alipurduar and 180 kilometres from Siliguri, and it’s well-connected by road and rail.

History

The year of the creation of the Buxa Tiger Reserve is 1983, making it the 15th tiger reserve present in India. Tiger reserves were established under the Tiger Reserve Policy of 1973. Within three years of its establishment, this reserve was further expanded and spread over more than 316 square kilometres. Later in 1991, a 55 square km area was added to fulfil the demand for its flora and fauna. Out of the Buxa Tiger Reserve, the Bengal Government carved out the Buxa Wildlife Sanctuary with an area of 118 square kilometres so that various wildlife can be accumulated in the reserve.

Geography

Location 

It is situated in the Alipurduar district of West Bengal. The north border of the reserve runs parallel with the border of Bhutan. In the south of the reserve, national highway number 31-C is present. The eastern part touches the state of Assam. In the south of the reserve, Phibsoo Wildlife Sanctuary is present. In the western part, Manas National Park is present, which serves as the International corridor for the Asian elephant migration between Bhutan and India. The historic fort of Buxa is located here. This fort was captured after the Bhutan War in 1865. After that, it was used to detain freedom fighters. As the fort has connections with the freedom movement and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was also once imprisoned within the fort, the people have a sentimental affinity to the fort. This park is home to Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga, a sacred temple. The total count of forests in the reserve is eight. 

Geology 

It is close to the Buxa Formation of Mamley, the stromatolite-bearing dolomite limestones. It has been proclaimed a national geological monument by the Geological Survey of India (GSI) for the protection, maintenance, promotion, and enhancement of geological tourism in the adjacent state of Sikkim. 

Biodiversity in Buxa Tiger Reserve

Flora 

Buxa Tiger reserve has a wide floral diversity. More than 300 tree species, 200 shrub species, 300 herb species, 10 bamboo species, 150 orchid species, 100 grass species, and 130 aquatic flora species have been documented thus far. It also includes more than 70 sedges (Cyperaceae), whereas other monocotyledons and ferns comprise over 160 species. Sal, Champ, Simul, and Chikrasi are the most common tree species found in this park.

Forest types found here

• Savannah woodland
• Moist sal savannah
• Northern tropical evergreen forest
• Northern dry deciduous
• East Himalayan subtropical wet hill forest
• Eastern Bhabar and Terai sal
• Sub-Himalayan secondary wet mixed forest
• East Himalayan moist mixed deciduous forest

Fauna

Buxa Tiger reserve is famous for tigers. Apart from tigers, the Indian leopard, Bengal tiger, clouded leopard, gaur, chita, giant squirrel, and wild boar are among other 73 animal species found on the island. For the first time in 2018, two new species were added here. Later, it became the home of golden and spotted Asiatic golden cats. Apart from these, many species have become endangered here. These are Chinese pangolin, leopard cat, reticulated python, Bengal florican, hispid hare, and hog deer. There are four amphibian species, 41 reptile species, and 65 fish species. White-rumped vulture and slender-billed vulture, ferruginous pochard, rufous necked hornbill (Aceros nipalensis), and great hornbill (Buceros bicornis) also have the habitat at this park.

Conclusion 

Buxa Tiger Reserve is present on the Assam-Bhutan border in the northern part of Bengal. The majority of the river reaches the tiger reserve from Bhutan and carries massive amounts of bedload, obliterating the reserve’s river bottoms. Important habitats are disappearing. Overgrazing by cattle is leading to soil erosion in the reserve. There are many cases of fire in the reserve, and many cases of poaching are also happening. Dolomite mining is also a very big concern.