Uttarakhand State PCS

• 14 Jun 2024

Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary

Why in News?

Recently, four Uttarakhand forest department staffers died and four others were injured when the team was caught up in a raging forest fire in Almora district’s Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary.

Key Points

• Uttarakhand has reported 1,213 forest fire incidents from November 1, 2023, to June 14, 2024, compared to 663 incidents reported during the corresponding period in 2023.
  • Of 1653 hectares of forest land damaged in forest fires this year, 687 hectares have been damaged in Garhwal region, 833 hectares in Kumaon region and 132 hectares in wildlife administrative regions.
• The Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Kumaon Himalayas of Uttarakhand.
  • In 1988, the sanctuary was established with the aim of conserving the rich biodiversity of the region.
  • It boasts a remarkable variety of flora due to its diverse topography and altitudinal variation. The sanctuary is primarily covered with dense forest of oak and pine.
  • The sanctuary is also home to an impressive array of wildlife. The sanctuary boasts over 200 species of birds. 
    • They include species such as the Eurasian jay, koklass pheasant, monal pheasant, and Himalayan woodpecker.