Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary, Uttarakhand: Best Time To Visit, Travel Guide

Flora

The Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary is celebrated as one of the world’s most biodiverse reserves, boasting a rich variety of flora across its diverse climate and topography. Here is a list of notable flora found within the sanctuary based on the provided data:

• Chir Pine (Pinus roxburghii): Dense forests of chir pine thrive in the sanctuary’s middle altitudes, contributing to the biodiversity of the region.
• Oak (Quercus spp.): The sanctuary hosts oak forests, adding to the temperate woodlands that characterize the middle altitudes of the area.
• Birch (Betula spp.): Birch trees are part of the temperate forests found in the middle altitudes of the sanctuary, contributing to the diverse plant life.
• Rhododendrons (Rhododendron spp.): The sanctuary is adorned with rhododendron forests, adding vibrant colours to the landscape. Rhododendrons are known for their stunning flowers.
• Alpine Meadows: Higher elevations in the sanctuary feature alpine meadows, creating a unique ecosystem with a variety of Himalayan flowering plants.
• Coniferous Forests: Dotted throughout the higher elevations, coniferous forests add to the sanctuary’s diverse vegetation. These forests may include species like fir and spruce.
• Sub-alpine Forests: Found in the intermediate elevations, sub-alpine forests contribute to the overall biodiversity of the sanctuary, adding to the variety of plant species.
  High-altitude
• Bugyals: Further up, high-altitude bugyals (alpine grasslands) characterize the landscape, creating habitats for distinctive plant species adapted to these conditions.
• High-altitude Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: The sanctuary is reputed for hosting many high-value medicinal and aromatic plant species. Notable among them are Aconitum balfourii, Angelica glauca, Arnebia benthamii, Artemisia maritima, Bergenia stracheyi, and Dactylorhiza hatagirea.
• Rare and Endangered Species: The sanctuary is home to 22 rare and endangered medicinal and aromatic plant species, emphasizing its significance in biodiversity conservation.
  Tungnath Sedges
• (Carex lacta and C. munda): At Tungnath, two sedges, Carex lacta and C. munda, have been reported. Interestingly, these sedges were previously only reported in the far west region of Nepal, highlighting the unique plant diversity in the sanctuary.

Fauna

The diverse array of fauna underscores the ecological richness of Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary, making it a haven for wildlife enthusiasts and conservationists alike

Carnivores:

• Indian Jackal (Canis aureus indicus)

• Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes)

• Himalayan Black Bear (Selenarctos thibetanus laniger) (Vulnerable)

• Yellow-throated Marten (Martes flavigula)

• Leopard Cat (Felis bengalensis)

• Indian Leopard (Panthera pardus fusca) (Vulnerable)

• Snow Leopard (Uncia uncia)
  Note: In June 2019, a tiger was also captured on camera in this sanctuary.

Ungulates:

• Indian Boar (Sus scrofa cristatus)
• Himalayan Musk Deer (Moschus leucogaster)
• Indian Muntjac

Primates:

• Rhesus Macaque (Macaca mulatta)
• Common Langur (Presbytis entellus)

Smaller Mammals:

• Hodgson’s Brown-toothed Shrew (Episoriculus caudatus)
• Red Giant Flying Squirrel (Petaurista petaurista)
• Royle’s Pika (Ochotona roylei)

Birds:

• Himalayan Monal (Lophophorus impejanus) – State bird of Uttarakhand
• Snow Partridge (Lerwa lerwa)
• Kalij Pheasant (Lophura leucomelanos hamiltonii)
• Koklass Pheasant (Pucrasia macrolopha)
• West Himalayan Bush Warbler (Locustella kashmirensis)
• Little Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula westermanni)
• Grey-cheeked Warbler (Seicercus poliogenys)
• Rusty-flanked Treecreeper (Certhia nipalensis)

Reptiles:

• Himalayan Pit Viper (Gloydius himalayanus syn. Ancistrodon himalayanus) – Common
• Boulenger’s Keelback (Hebius parallelum)

Fish:

In the Mandakini River, various fish species have been recorded, including:

• Schizothorax sp.
• Mahseer (Tor tor)
• Labeo spp.
• Garra spp.
• Barilius spp.
• A new species of Nemacheilus
• Glyptothorax spp.
• Balitora brucei