Indawgyi Lake Wildlife Sanctuary - The largest inland lake in Southeast Asia

Year of Declaration:  2003
Area (hectares): 78,000
Area and Location:

Moehnyin Township, Kachin State, Myanmar.

 

Description:

The Park was established for the protection of waterfowl and their habitats and the neighboring catchment areas; eastern side of the lake is mountainous terrain while the north and west are hilly.

 

Habitat Types:

Moist upper mixed deciduous forests; semi-evergreen forests on the mountainous terrain; the habitats in the Lake include open water, herbaceous marsh, floating mats, limited emerged beds and extensive areas of submerged macrophytes.

 

Unique Flora:

Teak (Tectona grandis); Hopea odorata; Dipterocarpus alatus; Terminalia tomentosa; sakawar (Michelia champaca); Yemane (Gmelina arborea).

 

Unique Fauna:

Wild elephant; leopard; bear; serow; gaur; banteng; red goral; gibbon; macaque; sambar and barking deer;  wild dog; golden jackal (Felis temmincki); wild boar; hog deer (Gaxis porcinus); civet; waterbirds; Himalayan griffon vulture (Gyps himalayensis); and chestnut-crowned bush warbler (Cettia major).

 

Ecotourism Destination and Activities:

Local pagoda festival focusing on environmental education and awareness; the largest wetland ecosystems and the attractive habitats; sanctuary of migratory and residential birds and waterfowls, rare aquatic organisms, rare butterflies and insects, rare species of fishes, orchids and bamboos, either around the Lake or along the Indawgyi stream; wildlife viewing,  leisure walk through the lush forest; bird watching;  viewing and participation in traditional fishing practices; see the historical famous Shwe Myint Zu Pagoda on the western side of the Lake.

 

Biological Richness: • 37 species of mammals
• 80 species of amphibians and reptiles
• 60 species of butterflies
• 64 species of fish
• 350 species of forest birds
• 99 species of waterbirds
• 10 species of turtle and tortoise
• 69 species of orchids
• 47 species of medicinal plants
• 80 species of trees  
• 10 species of grass  
• 9 species of rattan