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Coordinates:26390N893448E

BuxaTigerReserve
FromWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

TheBuxaTigerReserve(BTR)(Bengali:
Pron:bks)isa760squarekilometre(290sqmi)tigerreserve BuxaTigerReserve
locatedinsidetheBuxaNationalPark(Bengali:
BkshaJatioUddan)inWestBengal,India,intheBuxa IUCNcategoryII(nationalpark)
HillsofthesouthernhillyareaofBhutan.Animalsfoundinthe
parkinclude,thetiger,civet,elephant,gaur(Indianbison),Indian
boarandredjunglefowl.[1][2] BuxaNP

Contents
1 Location
2 Conservationhistory
3 Archaeology
4 Foresttypes
5 Floraandfauna
5.1 Flora
5.2 Fauna
5.3 Endangeredspecies
6 Threatstothereserve
7 Parkactivities
7.1 Trekking
7.2 Parksafari
Location WestBengal,India
7.3 Other
7.4 Lodging Nearestcity Alipurduar
8 Approach Coordinates 26390N893448E
9 Nearbysites
Area 760km2(290sqmi)
10 References
11 Externallinks Established 1983
Governingbody MinistryofEnvironmentand
Forests,GovernmentofIndia
Location
BuxaTigerReserveliesinAlipurduardistrictofWestBengal.Itsnorthern
boundaryrunsalongtheinternationalborderwithBhutan.TheSinchulahill
rangeliesallalongthenorthernsideofBTRandtheeasternboundary
touchesthatoftheAssamstate.NationalHighwayNo.31Croughlyruns
alongitssouthernboundary.Itistheeasternmostextensionofextremebio
diverseNorthEastIndiaandrepresentshighlyendemicIndoMalayan
region.Thefragile"TeraiEcoSystem"constitutesapartofthisreserve.
ThePhipsuWildlifeSanctuaryofBhutaniscontiguoustothenorthofBTR.
ManasNationalParkliesoneastofBTR.BTR,thus,servesasinternational
corridorforAsianelephantmigrationbetweenIndiaandBhutan.Tothe
Jayantihills
southwest,theChilapataForestsformanelephantcorridortotheJaldapara
WildlifeSanctuary.Thereserveencompassesasmanyaseightforesttypes.
ThedivisionalheadquartersislocatedatAlipurduar.Theforestisdividedintotwodivisions:EastandWest.The
Himalayangriffon,beautifulnuthatch,fourdifferentvarietiesofhornbillandtheredbreastedHimalayanpartridge
areimportantbirdsinthisreserve.Amongthewildanimals,cloudedleopard,tiger,wilddog,pangolinand
Himalayanblackbeararerare.BuxaFortisanimportantlandmarkforthisreserve.Thisfortwascapturedby
BritishIndiain1865aftertheBhutanWarfromBhutan.LaterthisfortwasusedasadetentioncampforIndian
freedomfightersduringtheIndianfreedommovement.

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Conservationhistory
BuxaTigerReservewascreatedin1983asthe15thtigerreserveinIndia.
In1986,BuxaWildlifeSanctuarywasconstitutedover314.52km2ofthe
reserveforests.In1991,54.47km2wasaddedtoBuxaWildlifeSanctuary.
Ayearlater,in1992,theGovernmentofWestBengaldeclaredits
intentionstoconstituteanationalparkover117.10km2oftheBuxa
WildlifeSanctuary.Stategovernmentfinallydeclarednationalparkwith
notificationNo.3403For/11B6/95dt.05.12.1997.[3]
BuxaTigerReserve
Archaeology
ThehistoricBuxaFort(2,600feetor790metresabovem.s.l.).Peoplehave
sentimentalattachmentwiththefortonaccountsofitsassociationwiththe
struggleforfreedom.Asacredtemple,MahakaleshwarJyotirlingaliesin
BTR.Around10,000devoteesofLordShivacongregatehereon"Shiva
Chouturdoshi".

Foresttypes
Northerndrydeciduous
EasternBhabarandTeraisal BuxaFort
EastHimalayanmoistmixeddeciduousforest
SubHimalayansecondarywetmixedforest
Easternsubmontanesemievergreenforest
Northerntropicalevergreenforest
EastHimalayansubtropicalwethillforest
Moistsalsavannah
Lowalluvium
Savannahwoodland

Floraandfauna
Flora

Morethan450speciesoftrees,250speciesofshrubs,400speciesofherbs,9speciesofcane,10speciesof
bamboo,150speciesoforchids,100speciesofgrassand130speciesofaquaticfloraincludingmorethan70
sedges(Cyperaceae)havebeenidentifiedsofar.Therearemorethan160speciesofothermonocotyledonsand
ferns.Themaintreesaresal,champa,gamar,simulandchikrasi.[3]

Fauna

ThemainspeciesareAsianelephant,tiger,gaur,wildboarandsambar.

Therearemorethan284speciesofbirds,[1]73speciesofmammals,76speciesofsnakesand5speciesof
amphibianshavebeenidentifiedsofar.Inarecentsurvey(2006)itwasfoundthatBuxaTigerReservehasthe
highestnumberoffishspeciesintheNorthBengalregion.Tigers,elephants,bears,civets,giantsquirrel,gaur,
chital,cloudedleopard,wildbuffalo,antelopeandsnakesincludingtheregalpythonarefoundhere.[2]

About230speciesofbirdsandinnumerablebutterfliesaddcolourtotheforest.TheRaidakandJayantirivers
whichflowthroughtheforestandNarathaliLakearehometomigratoryandendemicbirds.Therearegreaterpied
hornbill,ibisbill,migratorygoosander,redstars,wagtails,therareblackneckedcrane,migratorycommonteal,

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blackstork,largewhistlingteal,
minivets,andferruginouspochards.
Twonewspeciesoffrogwere
discoveredintheparkin2006.[3]

Endangeredspecies

Endangeredspeciesfoundinthe
reserveareIndiantiger,Asian
elephant,leopardcat,Bengal
florican,regalpython,Chinese
pangolin,hispidhare,[4]hog
deer[2][3]lesseradjutant(Leptoptilos
Blackcrestedbulbulinthereserve javanicus),whiterumpedvulture Fivebarswordtailinthereserve
(Gypsbengalensis),slenderbilled
vulture(Gypstenuirostris),
chestnutbreastedpartridge(Arborophilamandellii),rufousneckedhornbill(Acerosnipalensis),ferruginous
pochard(Aythyanyroca)andgreathornbill(Bucerosbicornis).[1]

Indiancabbagewhite Redjunglefowl Bluerockthrush Verditerflycatcher

atBuxaTigerReserve

Hoarybelliedsquirrel Bambootreebrown

Threatstothereserve
MostriversenterBTRfromBhutan.Theycarryhugeamountofbedload.TheyobliteratebedsofBTR
rivers.Floodingisfrequent.Criticalhabitatsarelost.
Overonelakh(100,000)cattlegrazeinthereservedaily.Weeds,unpalatablegrassesandshrubshave
invadedtheovergrazedareas.
Hilly,Bhabharandriverinetractsofcoresufferfromfire.Generallynontimberforestproducecollectorsand
shepherdsputforestsonfire.[1]
Nofrequentpoachingcases.TribalpopulationinteagardenspoachsmallmammalsduringHolifestival
illicitlyaspartofritualhunting.
BodomilitantsfromAssamoccasionallyentercore.Timberthievesoperateinthearea.

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Fiveforesthamletsinhillytractviz.Adma,Chunabhati,Santrabari,TobgaonandTashigaonhavesome
encroachmentsbywayofunauthorisedorangeorchards.[3]

Parkactivities
Trekking

Buxa(2,600ft)isaonehourfifteenminute(3.9km)trekthroughpicturesquesurroundingsfromSanthalbari,the
startingpoint.ThehistoricalBuxaFortwascomingundertheBritishIndiaafterthe2ndDooarsWar(1865)
betweentheBhutanandtheBritish,thesubsidiaryallianceofprincelystateCoochBehar.Thiswasusedasa
detentioncampbytheBritish,becauseofitsremotenessduringtheIndianfreedommovement.Manyfreedom
fighterswereimprisonedhere.Afterindependence,itservedasarefugeecampforTibetansandBangladeshis.
Thereareanumberoftrekkingroutesthroughthejungle.

Thereisa4kmfurthertrektoRovers'PointorRomiteyDara(thelandofbeautifulbirdsat4,500ftor
1,400m).
FromBuxa,onecanalsotakethe13kmtrekrouteforJayantiviaMahakalCavethroughthedensejungle
(subjectedtogetpermissionfromBTR).TheMahakalCaveisastalactitestalagmitecave,popularlyknown
astheMahakalcavenearJainty.
ThemostpopularrouteisPagsamkhaPathTrekroute,whichstartsfromBuxaFort,BuxaduarviaAadma
andendsatRaimatung.

AnexpertguideandentrypermitaremustfortrekkinginBuxahills.Onemayvisittheverybeautifulvillageof
DukpascalledLapchakha(1.5hourtrek)fromBuxaFort.Abeautifultrekkers'hutnamedDukpa'sHut(with
attachedbath)islocatedjustoppositetotheBuxaFortgroundandbesidesofRupangValleyTrekroute.Though
thereareeighthomestaysintotal,butmostlyarelocatedatLapchakhawithminimumfacilities.OnlyRovers'Inn
atSadarbazarhavemaximumcapacityofaccommodationsbutfarfromBuxaFort.DukpasHutisalsocalled
'BirdersNest'bythebirdwatchers.Trekkingindifferentshortroutewithcampingfacilitiesarrangedfromthe
DukpasHut.Ithasaseparatekitchenfortrekkersalso.thedoublestoriedwoodenhuthastwofamilyrooms
(sleeping3)onupperfloorandadormitorywithattachedbathongroundfloor(sleeping6)withdiningfacility.
Birdwatching,trekkinganddarkskyphotographytoursalsoarrangefromhere.Thehutbecameanimportant
centreforthepromotionoftourisminthisregion.WongyelandChhogyelDukpaarethetwoDukpabrothersareto
runthehomestayandassistthetrekkershere.TheBakshaDuarPostOfficeisaheritagebuildingandthehighest
postofficeinAlipurduarDistrict.ThetribeDukpas(IndoBhutanese)livedinelevenhamletsofBuxaHillswhich
mostlylocatedinhillyjunglesofBuxaTigerReserveataltituderangingfrom24006200feet.Anotherentrypoint
Rajabhatkhawa(17kmfromAlipurduar)hasanorchidarium,andanatureinterpretationcentre.Onecangofora
circulartrekfromBuxaduarviaChunabhatiAdmatoRaimatang.Thisisactually8hourstoughtrekwithanexpert
guidebutusuallytrekkersprefertomakeitasa3daycomfortabletrektounderstandnatureandtheethnicculture
ofthisregion.LocaltouroperatorsatAlipurduarprovidetentsandothermaterialstothetrekkers.

Parksafari

OnecanhaveaparksafaribycarorjeepbytakingpermissionfromtheForestOfficeatRajabhatkhawaorat
Jayanti.

Other

YoucantrektoPukriMai,asmallsacredpond(KartsLake)situatedinsidetheparkwherefisheslikemagurand
singiandturtlesarekept.FestivalsareheldatcertaintimeoftheyearbybothBuddhistandHindusandlocal
ethnicgroupslikeDukpas.

Dukpa:thewordprobablycomesfromDrukpa,thepeoplefromthelandofthunderstorm.Theyaretheancient
ethnicgroupamongtheotherinhabitantsofBuxaTigerReserve.DukpasusedliveinthehamletsofBuxaHills
fromeasttowest.TheseasonalmigratoryDukpasaredividedmainlyinto30differentsects.Theyoriginallywere

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thefollowersof(DrukpaKagyud)MahayaniBuddhism.SomeofthemareconvertedintoChristianity.AFinnish
churchisstillexistsalongwiththeageoldBuddhistGumbaatChunabhati.AgraveyardatSadarbazarbearsthe
testimonyofBritishers.

Lodging

ThoughForestAuthoritystillnotinterestedintourismbutsometimestheyallowedvisitortostayintheir
inspectionbungalows.ThereareForestI.B.atBuxaDuar,Jainti,Raimatung,SouthRidak,Kumargram
(Barobisha)andNimatiRbeat/Rangeareas.ThebeautifulbungalowatBhutanghatisdestroyed.SouthRaidak
BungalowwasrenovatedandbecameHeritageRestHouse.A16beddormitorystillexistsatBuxaduarandJainti.
ThereareforestresthousesofWestBengalForestDevelopmentCorporationatRajabhatkhawaonly.Jayantiatthe
banksoftheriverJayantinestledbetweenmountainsandthickforests.Otherthanforestlodgespresentlysome
homestayaccommodationsareavailableatJainti,RaimatungandBuxaduar.InBuxaduarDukpashuts(dwelling
houses)areusedtostayforthetrekkers,atSantalabari(Buxa)Buxavalleyisagreatplacetostayinwithfamily
andfriendsbuiltontheBuxahillslopes,atRajabhatkhawaDooarsqueenisverygoodplaceonthebankofariver
andsomeforestdwellershousesareconvertedintolodges.AconcernnamedaftertheSinchulaRangeistryingto
developingaconceptofhometourismintheseareasalongwiththeforestvillagers.

Approach
Nearestairport:Bagdogra195kmaway
Nearesttailstation:AlipurduarJunction/NewAlipurduar37km
Nearestcity:Alipurduar35km
Byroad:NH31isthemainhighway25kmaway.OnecanhireacarfromAlipurduarorRajabhatkhawa,
20kmaway.

Nearbysites
RajabhatKhawa
JaintyorJayanti
BuxaFort
Lapchakha
RaimatungorRaimatang
Buxaroad28basti

References
1."AbundanceofbirdsindifferenthabitatsinBuxaTigerReserve,WestBengal,India".Forktail.pp.128133.Archived
fromtheoriginalon20110330.Retrieved20110328.
2.BidhanKantiDas."RoleofNTFPsAmongForestVillagersinaProtectedAreaofWestBengal".Archivedfromthe
originalon20110330.Retrieved20110328.
3."ProjectTigeronBuxa".Archivedfromtheoriginalon20110106.Retrieved20110330.
4.JosephA.ChapmanJohnE.C.Flux.Rabbits,haresandpikas:statussurveyandconservationactionplan.pp.128
136.Retrieved20110330.

Externallinks
InformationabouttheTigerReserve(http://www.webindia123.com/w
WikimediaCommonshas
ildlife/parks/westbengal/buxa.htm)
mediarelatedtoBuxaTiger
TravelinformationforBuxaNationalPark(http://www.northbengal. Reserve.
com/places/jalpaiguri/buxa.htm)
BirdsofBuxaTigerReserve(http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Birds_of_Dooars)
ButterfliesofBuxaTigerReserve&Samsing(http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Butterflies_of_
Dooars)
FloraofBuxaTigerReserve&Samsing(http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Flora_of_Dooars)
BirdingtripreportofJayantiBuxa(http://www.bengalbirds.info/jayantibuxabirds.php)
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Categories: IUCNCategoryII Naturereserves TigerreservesofIndia Dooars

Protectedareasestablishedin1983 NationalparksofWestBengal TourisminWestBengal
Alipurduardistrict

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