In Forests of Dooars, North Bengal

[Jimmy]

(01-27-2019, 01:47 PM)Rishi Wrote:

(01-26-2019, 02:31 PM)Jimmy Wrote:

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*This image is copyright of its original author

Thanks for such detailed reply.

The forest cover between Parsa & Kosi-Tappu actually looks better than some parts of the west to me... medium-sized, solid patches. Hope they shift their attention eastwards in future.
Also Nepal's middle Himalayas look much more widely cultivated than Uttarakhand, let alone Bhutan or Arunachal.

Elephant presence is better in the East.

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Although conflict is higher too, not unusually so.

*This image is copyright of its original author

Eastern forest corridor has some chunks of forest left for sure but like I said it is a bit hilly and land mass is made of porous rocks which means water is quickly absorbed by the land thus the land often looks very very dry, though there is green tree cover, water is scarce. Most of the forset in the eastern sector falls in what is known as the Churiya hill range- Lesser Himalayas.

You are right most of the Nepalese population is made up of hill ethnic who reside in mid hills - north of Churiya range. Mid hills is heavily cultivated apart from plains. this the reason why you don't see any major national parks in this part.

I won't say the elephant is doing better in the east simply because, those in the east are often migrants from Bengal region, and huge herd come seasonally and return back, Since the habitat is not great quality it is a cause of conflict with people. Traditional migration route was a bit lower in the plain like your second map shows but now they have no choice but to traverse through mountainous part. Western population of elephants are more residents type, habitat allows them to stay in the area and breed. Though they may travel to Indian side, the corridors are natural/historical one.

The east was not intended to have many parks it seems. Rhinos, tigers were already present in the central and Western region so the eastern forest was just there in sort of neglect. Now they may revive these part, already rhinos has been found beyond Parsa reserve into another district east. But I doubt it will be as important as the western forest simply cuz the latter is alluvial region and will support more density of animals. Though proper management of preserving what is left will be a great accomploshment. At least the elephants are showing the migration route of wildlife from Bengal which could reach Chitwan and Bardia with proper corridor management That would be awesome. Reply