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Deva-Vatala National Park is a protected area in Bhimber District, Azad Kashmir, Pakistan.[1] It is located close to the Indian border and aligns with the district of Gujrat.[2] The park is one of the few protected areas in Azad Kashmir to be located in a thorn forest. It is home to some of the most diverse wildlife, including the only population of Red Junglefowl, in Pakistan.[3]
| Deva Vatala National Park | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Coordinates | 32°54′09″N 74°21′45″E / 32.90250°N 74.36250°E |
| Opened | 1998 |
History edit
This national park was notified in 1998 and spreads over an area of 7,000 hectares which is around 29km2.[2] It was part of India until 1971.
Geography edit
The park is an important hotspot for biodiversity and has many lakes which attract waterfowl. It is a hilly area with a maximum height of 1,101m above sea level. It is part of the Lower Himalayan Range, and is mainly covered by tropical thorn forest.
Flora edit
The forest is mainly tropical thorn covered by Acacia and many evergreen trees with diverse shrub growth. The climate is mainly sem-arid.
Fauna edit
Deva Vatala National Park is home to many mammals, birds and reptiles.
Mammals in the park include:
- Indian leopard, "P.p.fusca"
- Golden jackal, C. a. indica
- Indian grey mongoose, H. e. edwardsii
- Small Indian civet, V. indica
- Cape hare, L. c. isabellinus
- Wild boar, S. s. scrofa
- Nilgai, B. tragocamelus
- Hog deer, A. porcinus
- Indian porcupine, H. i. blandfordi
Significant birds:
- Indian peafowl, P. cristatus
- Red junglefowl, G. gallus[1]
- Black francolin, F. francolinus
- Grey francolin, F. pondicerianus
- Mallard, A. platyrhynchos
- Northern shoveler, S. clypeata
- Eurasian coot, F. atra
Reptiles:
- Indian python, P. molurus
- King cobra, O. hannah
- Bengal monitor, V. bengalensis
References edit
- ^ a b Subhani, A.; Awan, M. S.; Anwar, M.; Ali, U.; Dar, N. I. (2010). "Population status and distribution pattern of red jungle fowl (Gallus gallus Murghi) in Deva Vatala National Park, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan: A pioneer study". Pakistan Journal of Zoology (Pakistan). ISSN 0030-9923.
- ^ a b "Deva Vatala National Park · Dewa Road". Deva Vatala National Park · Dewa Road. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
- ^ Umar, Muhammad; Hussain, Mubashar; Malik, Muhammad Faheem; Awan, Muhammad Naeem; Lee, David C. (2021). "Avian Community Composition and Spatio-Temporal Patterns at Deva Vatala National Park, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan". Pakistan Journal of Zoology. 53 (3). doi:10.17582/journal.pjz/20190711190734. ISSN 0030-9923. S2CID 226543498.