Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary

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Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary
NWS
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
India relief location map.jpg
Red pog.svg
Location Ri-Bhoi district, Meghalaya, India
Nearest city Shillong and Guwahati
Coordinates 25°56′16.44″N91°47′15″E / 25.9379000°N 91.78750°E / 25.9379000; 91.78750 25° 56′ 16.44″ N, 91° 47′ 15″ E
Area29 km (18 miles)
Max. elevation950m
Min. elevation200m
Established1981

Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary is a IUCN Category IV protected areas located in Meghalaya, India. It covers 29 square kilometers in Ri-Bhoi district. It was designated a wildlife sanctuary in 1981. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

History

The sanctuary was first created by the colonial British administration as 'Nongkhyllem Reserved Forest' in July 1909. The area was expanded by consequent notifications in 1913, 1933, and 1939. The eastern part of the reserve was converted into the 'Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary' in 1981 measuring 29 sq. km. The remaining part of the reserved forest was maintained as such. [4] The latter consists of the Nongkhyllem Reserve Forest (9691 ha) and a portion of community-managed forest (2300 ha) which was acquired by the Meghalaya state government. [5]

Initially, the conservation efforts focused on mithun and clouded leopard. [6]

An Eco-Sensitive Zone was declared around the sanctuary by the India's Ministry of Forest, Environment and Climate Change in 2017. [6]

Geography

The sanctuary comprises of several hills and valleys with numerous streams passing through them. The area ranges from 200 meters to 800 meters and the highest point is Mawkyndah with an altitude of 965 meters.

Hydrology

The streams from the sanctuary join the rivers Umtrew, Umtasor, and Umsaw.

Biology

The sanctuary’s minimal biotic interaction is a positive factor for its biodiversity. [6]

Fauna

There are at least 50 known species of mammals and 25 species of reptiles in the sanctuary. 30 of these mammals species are on the Schedule 1 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. [7] There are over 400 noted species of birds, including the endangered rufous-necked hornbill. [8]

In 2021 researchers found the Disk-footed bat for the first time in the Lailad area near the sanctuary. This was almost 1000km from the nearest known habitat in Myanmar. It is one of at least 66 species of bats found in the state. [9] A new species of bamboo-dwelling bat, found near the sanctuary, was classified as Glischropus meghalayanus in 2022. It was the first reported dwelling of the thick-thumbed bat in South Asia. [10]

In 2024 researchers from Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment found the dung beetle species Onitis bordati in the sanctuary for the first time expanding its known range from Vietnam and Thailand. [11] [12]

Recreation

There are no official figures for the annual visitors to the sanctuary. However, people from neighbouring villages often visit the area as its stewards.

Eco-tourism project

In 2025 the Government of Meghalaya proposed an eco-tourism infrastructure project, valued at approximately Rs 23.60 crore, within the wildlife sanctuary. The project designed by E-factor Experiences, based in Noida, proposed to create a chalet-styled resort, interpretation centre, canopy-based skywalks, and water sports zone. [8]

Seven village around the sanctuary have also opposed the project due to lack of community consultation and obvious threat to the ecosystem. The village councils, Rangbah Shnong, issued a joint statement against the project. [13] Meghalaya-based organisation, The Green-Tech Foundation, also strongly opposed the project. [6]

See Also

References

  1. ↑ Laitphlang, David (19 January 2021). "Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary in Meghalaya is Northeast's best protected area". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
  2. ↑ "Meghalaya group opposes ecotourism project in wildlife sanctuary". The Hindu. 10 May 2025. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 28 October 2025.
  3. ↑ "'Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary will be harmed by ecotourism project'". Highland Post. 16 April 2025. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
  4. ↑ The Gazette of India: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change notification. S.O. 1816 (PDF). New Delhi: Government of India. 7 June 2017.
  5. ↑ "BirdLife DataZone". datazone.birdlife.org. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Meghalaya's Green-Tech Foundation opposes tourism project in Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary". Northeast News. 18 April 2025. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  7. ↑ "Green-Tech Foundation makes visit to Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary". The Shillong Times . 23 April 2025. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
  8. 1 2 Editorial (17 April 2025). "Of Ecotourism". Highland Post. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
  9. ↑ Karmakar, Rahul (18 April 2021). "Meghalaya records India's first bat with sticky disks". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 28 October 2025.
  10. ↑ Singh, Shiv Sahay (15 June 2022). "New species of bamboo-dwelling bat found in Meghalaya". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 28 October 2025.
  11. ↑ "New Dung Beetle Species Discovered In Meghalaya's Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary". Northeast Today. 13 September 2024. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
  12. ↑ Karimbumkara, Seena Narayanan; Priyadarsanan, Dharma Rajan (10 September 2024). "Study on the genus Onitis (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) of the Indian Subcontinent, with three new species from India". European Journal of Taxonomy. 956: 1–61. doi:10.5852/ejt.2024.956.2657. ISSN   2118-9773.
  13. ↑ Gupta, Somashis (25 April 2025). "Villagers Cry Foul Over Eco-Tourism Project at Nongkhyllem". East India Story. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
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