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Deva Vatala National Park

Coordinates: 32°54′09″N 74°21′45″E / 32.90250°N 74.36250°E / 32.90250; 74.36250
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Deva Vatala National Park
Map
Coordinates32°54′09″N 74°21′45″E / 32.90250°N 74.36250°E / 32.90250; 74.36250
Opened1998

Deva-Vatala National Park is a protected area in Bhimber District, Azad Kashmir, Pakistan.[1] It is located close to the Indian border and aligns with the district of Gujrat.[2] The park is one of the few protected areas in Azad Kashmir to be located in a thorn forest. It is home to some of the most diverse wildlife, including the only population of Red Junglefowl, in Pakistan.[3]

History

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This national park was notified in 1998 and spreads over an area of 7,000 hectares which is around 29km2.[2] It was part of India until 1971.

Geography

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The park is an important hotspot for biodiversity and has many lakes which attract waterfowl. It is a hilly area with a maximum height of 1,101m above sea level. It is part of the Lower Himalayan Range, and is mainly covered by tropical thorn forest.

Flora

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The forest is mainly tropical thorn covered by Acacia and many evergreen trees with diverse shrub growth. The climate is mainly sem-arid.

Fauna

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Deva Vatala National Park is home to many mammals, birds and reptiles.

Mammals in the park include:

Significant birds:

Reptiles:

References

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  1. ^ a b Subhani, A.; Awan, M. S.; Anwar, M.; Ali, U.; Dar, N. I. (2010). "Population status and distribution pattern of red jungle fowl (Gallus gallus Murghi) in Deva Vatala National Park, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan: A pioneer study". Pakistan Journal of Zoology (Pakistan). ISSN 0030-9923.
  2. ^ a b "Deva Vatala National Park · Dewa Road". Deva Vatala National Park · Dewa Road. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
  3. ^ Umar, Muhammad; Hussain, Mubashar; Malik, Muhammad Faheem; Awan, Muhammad Naeem; Lee, David C. (2021). "Avian Community Composition and Spatio-Temporal Patterns at Deva Vatala National Park, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan". Pakistan Journal of Zoology. 53 (3). doi:10.17582/journal.pjz/20190711190734. ISSN 0030-9923. S2CID 226543498.