Context:
Recently, The Indian Air Force deployed an MI17 helicopter to control the massive wildfire in Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary (BWS) in Almora, Uttarakhand.
Relevance:
GS III: Environment and Ecology
About Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary:
- Location:
- Situated in Uttarakhand, India.
- Located in the Kumaon region of the Himalayas, approximately 33 kilometres north of Almora district.
- Covers an area of around 47 square kilometres.
- Historical Significance:
- Formerly the summer capital of the Chand Dynasty rulers, who governed Kumaon from the 7th to 18th century AD.
- The sanctuary is at an elevation of 2,420 meters.
- Named after the Bineshwar Mahadev temple, a 16th-century temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.
- Biodiversity:
- Known for its rich biodiversity and panoramic views of Himalayan peaks such as Chaukhamba, Nanda Devi, Nanda Kot, Panchachuli, and Kedarnath.
- Flora:
- Features oak and rhododendron forests at higher altitudes and chir pine forests at lower elevations.
- Contains 25 types of trees, 24 types of bushes, and seven varieties of grasses.
- Fauna:
- Hosts more than 200 species of native and migratory birds.
- Houses endangered species like the Indian red fox, jackals, pine martens, and porcupines.
- Also home to leopards, ghorals, wild boars, kakars, monkeys, Himalayan black bears, and several bird species including the Himalayan monal, koklass pheasant, and Himalayan griffon.
-Source: Indian Express
