K HAKABORAZI National Park and Hponkanrazi Wildlife Sanctuary in Kachin State is enchanting the eco-tourists in high season, with its scenic view and biodiversity.
Myanmar is strategically located and of geopolitical importance for regional connectivity between Southeast Asia and South Asia. The country is standing proudly with its strategic coastlines in the west and south, natural resources, icy mountains in the north and mountain ranges and rich biodiversity. The country’s wildlife sanctuaries and national parks are drawing the attentions of the researchers and has become the destinations for eco-tourism. The country is home to several cultural heritage sites, with UNESCO World Heritage sites and ASEAN Heritage Park.
Green and Alluring Hponkanrazi Wildlife Sanctuary
The fasinating natural secnic views of the snow-capped mountains and coniferous forests are the main attractions of the Hponkanrazi Wildlife Sanctuary. The visitors can enjoy hiking, boat ride, biodiversity, the ecosystem and the natural view of Khakaborazi icy mountain through Hponkanrazi Wildlife Sanctuary.
Hponkanrazi Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Putao District, Kachin State, on over 1,044 square miles of land. It is regarded as the protected area on 1 December 2013 by the Forest Department and the Nature and Wildlife Conservation Division has been implementing the wildlife conservation and sustainable habitat.
Visitors can travel by air to Putao from Yangon, Mandalay and Myitkyina or they can plan road trip as well. The trekking activity in the wildlife sanctuary will make the stessed-out visitors appreciate the peace and quiet moments. Otherwise, they can take mortorbike to tour around.
The officials set up the community-based information center in coordination with the International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) at Wasandam village in Putao city to share and observe the rich biodiversity, raise awareness of the wildlife conservation and enhance the livelihoods of the residents in the hilly areas.
The Nature and Wildlife Conservation Division under the Department of Forest, in coordination with the inernational organizaitons, has been carrying out the setting up of camera trapping, reserach on gibbons, plants, biodiversity and endangered wildlife animalas, petrolling, and educating the people for wildlife sustainability.
Hponkanrazi Wildlife Sanctuary was established with an aim to conserve the biodiversity in the north of Myanmar, maintain the ecosystem, document the wildlife species, enhance the ecotourism and effectuate the socio-economic development of the local ethnic people.
The visitors can enjoy the captivating beauty of the snowcapped mountians, rhododendron hills and pine forests. It is a destination for those who love to go trekking and adventure tours.
Hponkanrazi Wildlife Sanctuary is covered with the evergreen forest, subtropical regions, wetland, rhododendron hills and pine forests, documenting 533 plant species of plants including rhododendron, pine, oat, different types of bamboo and cane, herbal plants and 200 types of orchid. It is also home to 36 mammal species, 370 bird species, 360 butterfly species, 82 species of crawling and amphibious animals. Most importantly, it is the important habitat for the endangered species.
Rich biodiversity in Khakaborazi National Park
The new wildlife species, alluring icy mountains and medicinal plants and herbs are catching the attentions of the visitors.
Khakaborazi was established as a natural reserve on 30 January 1996 and as a national park on 10 November 1998. It has been declared as ASEAN heitage park on 18 December 2003. It lies between latitude 27° 30’N and 28° 30’N and longitudes 97° 15’E and 98° 15’E, occupying an area of 1,472 square miles (942,080 miles).
People can directly go to Putao city from Yangon and Mandalay by air. The flight time takes only 35 minutes. It takes 8 days for road trips. The visitors can go there only in high season. The trekking is the popular activity in the park.
The National Park is located at the 3,000 feet above sea level. It is the highest mountain in the country, with its height of 19,296 feet. As it has extended form the Himalaya, it is nourished by rich soil and year-round rainfall. The highest temperature is 25°C and the lowest is 0°C and the highest annual rainfall is 156 inches. It is snow-capped mountain rising 10,000 feet above sea level with breath-taking unique geophysics features, waterfalls, mountain ranges and valleys. Khakaborazi is the largest national park and rich in biodiversity, which is standing proudly as biosphere reserve.
The park is home to more than 297 plant species, 13 bamboo species, herbal plants, 220 orchid species, 42 types of mammals including langur, Himala yan bear, mountain goat, deer, red panda, 370 bird species including phoenix, the 365 butterflies species (such as Golden Birdwing ,Kaiser and Apollo), 43 fog types, 32 snake species, 3 species of turtles, 6 types of lizard and other endangered species.
In addition to the natural scenic beatuy of Khakaborazi icy mountian and other mountians, the visitors can study the tradition and customs of the ethnic people, living styles and the wildlife habitats.
Dr Kate Armstrong from New York Botanical Garden, Dr Ruichang Quan from Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden and officials of Wildlife Conservation Society are working together on biodiversity research. They are jointly exploring the new species that have not officially listed and also documenting the endangered species to conserve the natural environment in the north and Ayeyawady Confluence, promote the ecotourism and raise the revenue for the country.
Myanmar is relying on the ecotourism as it belongs to the wildlife sanctuaries, UNESCO listed sites and ASEAN heritiage sites. The mountain destinations are different from the ecotourism in Myanmar coastal areas.
The biospehere reserves Khakaborazi National Park and Hponkanrazi Wildlife Sanctuary in Kachin State are attracting the visitors locally in high season, featuring the beauty of icy mountians and biodiversity.
Thitsa (MNA)
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