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Rakhine Yoma Elephant Range

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Rakhine Yoma Elephant Range
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
Rakhine Yoma Elephant Range is located in Myanmar
Rakhine Yoma Elephant Range
Location within Myanmar
LocationThandwe and Gwa Townships, Rakhine State, Image Myanmar
Nearest cityGwa
Coordinates18°00′0″N 94°45′0″E / 18.00000°N 94.75000°E / 18.00000; 94.75000
Area1,755.7 km2 (677.9 sq mi)[1]
Established2002[1]
Governing bodyMyanmar Forest Department[1]

Rakhine Yoma Elephant Range is a protected area in Myanmar's Rakhine Yoma mountains, covering about 1,756 km2 (678 sq mi) of evergreen and mixed deciduous forest at an elevation of 20–1,270 m (66–4,167 ft).[2] It is located at the southern end of the Arakan Yoma within Thandwe and Gwa townships. The area has over 100 wild elephants.[3]

In 2002, the Rakhine Yoma Elephant Range was established for the protection of the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus).[3] It harbours extensive tracts of bamboo (Melocanna baccifera), which provide shelter for the endangered Arakan forest turtle (Heosemys depressa).[4]

Biodiversity

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Wildlife recorded during a camera trap survey in 2000 included large Indian civet (Viverra zibetha), clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), Asiatic golden cat (Catopuma temminckii) and leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis).[5][6]

In 2001, Bufo crocus was discovered by a stream in the sanctuary at an elevation of 83 m (272 ft).[7] In 2001, the bent-toed geckos Cyrtodactylus ayeyarwadyensis and Cyrtodactylus wakeorum were discovered in the sanctuary and described as a new species in 2003.[8]

The presence of western hoolock gibbon (Hoolock hoolock) was confirmed during surveys in 2008.[9] Wildlife present also includes gaur (Bos gaurus), sun bear (Helarctos malayanus), white-rumped vulture (Gyps bengalensis), pale-capped pigeon (Columba punicea), white-winged duck (Asarcornis scutulata) and beautiful nuthatch (Sitta formosa).[10]

References

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  1. 1 2 3 World Database on Protected Areas (2019). "Rakhine Yoma Elephant Range". Protected Planet.
  2. ↑ Beffasti, L.; Gallanti, V., eds. (2011). "Rakhine Yoma Elephant Range" (PDF). Myanmar Protected Areas: Context, Current Status and Challenges. Milano, Yangon: Istituto Oikos, Biodiversity and Nature Conservation Association. pp. 84–85. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-12-03. Retrieved 2019-12-06.
  3. 1 2 "Wildlife in Arakan Yoma sanctuary faces rising threat from poachers in face of dwindling conservation resources". Development Media Group. Retrieved 2026-05-22.
  4. ↑ Platt, S. G.; Myo, K. M.; Ko, W. K.; Maung, A.; Rainwater, T. R. (2010). "Field observations and conservation of Heosemys depressa in the Rakhine Yoma Elephant Range of western Myanmar" (PDF). Chelonian Conservation and Biology. 9 (1): 114–119. doi:10.2744/CCB-0813.1. S2CID 86775422.[dead link]
  5. ↑ Than Zaw; Saw Htun; Saw Htoo Tha Po; Myint Maung; Lynam, A. J.; Kyaw Thinn Latt; Duckworth, J. W. (2008). "Status and distribution of small carnivores in Myanmar". Small Carnivore Conservation. 38: 2–28.
  6. ↑ Than Zaw; Than Myint; Saw Htun; Saw Htoo Tha Po; Kyaw Thinn Latt; Myint Maung; Lynam A. J. (2014). "Status and distribution of smaller felids in Myanmar" (PDF). Cat News (Special Issue 8): 24–30. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-12-05. Retrieved 2019-12-06.
  7. ↑ Wogan, G. O.; Win, H.; Thin, T.; Lwin, K. S.; Shein, A. K.; Kyi, S. W.; Tun, H. (2003). "A new species of Bufo (Anura: Bufonidae) from Myanmar (Burma), and redescription of the little known species Bufo stuarti Smith 1929" (PDF). Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences. 54 (7): 141−153.[dead link]
  8. ↑ Bauer, A. M. (2003). "Descriptions of seven new Cyrtodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) with a key to the species of Myanmar (Burma)" (PDF). Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences. 54 (25): 463–498. S2CID 129933095. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-12-20.
  9. ↑ Geissmann, T.; Grindley, M.; Momberg, F.; Lwin, N.; Moses, S. (2009). "Hoolock gibbon and biodiversity survey and training in southern Rakhine Yoma, Myanmar" (PDF). Gibbon Journal. 5: 7–27.
  10. ↑ Aung Kyaw (2014). Case study on Rakhine Yoma (PDF). Mekong Protected Areas and Climate Change Implications for Livelihoods and Development.
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