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Hukaung Valley Wildlife Sanctuary
is located in upper Chindwin the north part of the country, near
the Myanmar-India border (some parts of this sanctuary is situated
on Naga Hill), and is 6,459.357sq.km in extent. Vegetation is dominated
by dense lowland evergreen, temperate mountain and subtropical mountain
forests. In these forests, Indochinese Tiger (at least 20 to 24
individuals), Leopard, Clouded Leopard, Wild Elephant (at least
250 to 300 individuals), Malayan Sun Bear, Himalayan Black Bear,
Gaur, Wild Buffalo and various species of mammal may be viewed.
In this sanctuary not only lowland bird species but also mountain
bird species can be observed. Only 247 bird species have been recorded,
but it is believed that others are yet to be discovered. |
  
The highlight species in forest would be Green Peafowl,
Rufous-necked Hornbill, Golden-throated Barbet, Sultan Tit, Asian Paradise
Flycatcher and Black Redstart. Green Peafowl, White-winged Duck, Wood
Snipe, Great Thick-knee, Lesser Fish Eagle, White-bellied Heron, Black-necked
Stork, Lesser Adjutant and Spot-billed Pelican may be viewed on river
banks, in rivers and forests that are near rivers. In addition, a long
trip elephant ride in the natural forest, butterfly watching, plant and
orchid surveying, visiting the world famous Ledo Road (or Stilwell), adventure
trip in the rivers and streams by boat or canoe, observation the traditional
culture, custom and system of living of local Naga, Lisu, Kachin ethnic
nations and studying the unique fishing activities by Lisu hill tribes
can be also made. The world famous Ledo (or Stilwell) road is situated
in Hukaung Valley Wildlife Sanctuary. During the Second World War, the
road was built by American (28,000 engineers and 35,000 native laborers)
over a period of two years, planned as rout from Assam in India to Kunming
in China, was meant to assists Allied forces with track and supplies for
their push against the Japanese into Indochina. Here you can see the some
parts of the old tank cars, American supplies and old oil storage tanks
which were used during the Second World War. The best time to go is from
November to April.
  
World War II
Landmark Becomes A Wildlife Sanctuary
Officials from Myanmar (formally Burma) recently
declared a remote valley surrounding the old Ledo Road - a once vital
supply route for the Allies in WWII - the nation's largest wildlife
sanctuary, according to the Bronx Zoo-based Wildlife Conservation Society.
Known as the Hukaung Valley, the 2,500-square-mile protected area supports
elephants, leopards, Himalayan black bears, gaur and other wildlife
in numbers rarely seen elsewhere in present day Asia. It also contains
the last stronghold of Indochinese tigers in the country, and a population
of leaf deer, a species discovered by WCS researchers in 1997.
"The Hukaung Valley contains an assemblage of animals that have
vanished throughout much of Asia's forests," said Dr. Alan Rabinowitz,
Wildlife Conservation Society director for Science and Exploration,
who conducted the wildlife survey that led to the refuge's creation.
Considered one of the greatest engineering feats of WWII, the Ledo Road
(later renamed the Stillwell Road in honor of General Joseph Stillwell,
who first proposed the idea) connected the state of Assam in India with
the well-known Burma Road in northwest Myanmar. The road system provided
communications and supplies for the Allies' struggle against the Japanese.
The Ledo Road took some 60,000 engineers and indigenous laborers two
years to build, hacking through more than 300 miles of jungle, and negotiating
steep defiles, gorges and raging rapids. The project was completed in
1944 at a cost of 150 million dollars, and an estimated human toll of
"a man a mile."
The road has since fallen into disrepair, and the entire valley remains
largely uninhabited due to disease and flooding during most of the year.
"What makes the Hukaung Valley inhospitable to people has created
a refuge for wildlife," Dr. Rabinowitz added.
The reserve, officially created last month by Myanmar's government,
is a major step forward in the Myanmar Forest Department's involvement
with the Wildlife Conservation Society, which was the first conservation
group invited back into the country after a long period of isolation.
In fact, the Forest Department has recently asked WCS to survey a remote
area beyond the Hukuang Valley, to see if it could potentially link
to Hkakabo Razi National Park, the nation's second largest protected
area, which WCS also helped create.
"When WCS first began working in this isolated country in 1993,
only one percent of its land was officially protected as national parks
or wildlife sanctuaries, despite a reported 40 percent forest cover.
Now less than a decade later, nearly four percent of the country is
safeguarded, much of it due to the efforts of WCS and the dedicated
staff of the Myanmar Forest Department," Dr. Rabinowitz said.
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