The Standing Committee of the board in its last meeting favoured its declaration into a protected area at the earliest. In its recent camera trapping WWF studies found at least four tigers in the area.
According to Dr AJT Johnsingh, member of the NBWL Standing Committee, Nandhor area has been found to have good tiger presence and if protected, it can become as successful as Corbett National Park. “Protection was crucial, as a particular local community inhabiting the area was known to indulge in hunting." he added.
Spanning an area of about 18,00sq. km is spread out in Haldwani, Terai east and Champawat forest divisions, with the Gola, Kilpura-Khatima-Surai and Boom-Bhramdev wildlife corridors.
The vegetation of the Nandhor valley forests comprises a mosaic of dry and moist deciduous forests with traces of temperate forests towards the higher elevation areas.
“This landscape still holds potential for the conservation of tigers, as it has nearly 1,000 sqkm of tiger habitat that needs better protection", the experts pointed out.
The area is also well connected with the forests in Nepal across the Sharada river on the eastern side and it continues till the eastern part of Sukhlaphanta Wildlife Reserve, they added. Read the full report here.
Source: The Pioneer, New Delhi.
