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Flora & Fauna of West Bengal
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Sundarban
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As of 2009, recorded forest area in the state is 11,879 km2 (4,587 sq mi)
which is 13.38% of the state's geographical area, compared to the national average
of 21.02%. Reserves, protected and unclassed forests constitute 59.4%, 31.8% and
8.9%, respectively, of the forest area. Part of the world's largest mangrove
forest, the Sundarbans, is located in southern West Bengal. From a phytogeographic
viewpoint, the southern part of West Bengal can be divided into two regions: the
Gangetic plain and the littoral mangrove forests of the Sundarbans. The alluvial
soil of the Gangetic plain, compounded with favorable rainfall, make this region
especially fertile. Much of the vegetation of the western part of the state shares
floristic similarities with the plants of the Chota Nagpur plateau in the adjoining
state of Jharkhand. The predominant commercial tree species is Shorea robusta, commonly
known as the Sal tree. The coastal region of Purba Medinipur exhibits coastal vegetation;
the predominant tree is the Casuarina. A notable tree from the Sundarbans is the
ubiquitous sundari (Heritiera fomes), from which the forest gets its name.
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The distribution of vegetation in northern West Bengal is dictated by elevation
and precipitation. For example, the foothills of the Himalayas, the Dooars, are
densely wooded with Sal and other tropical evergreen trees. However, above an elevation
of 1,000 metres (3,300 ft), the forest becomes predominantly subtropical. In
Darjeeling, which is above 1,500 metres (4,900 ft), temperate-forest trees
such as oaks, conifers, and rhododendrons predominate. West Bengal has 3.26% of
its geographical area under protected areas comprising 15 wildlife sanctuaries and
5 national parks — Sundarbans National Park, Buxa Tiger Reserve, Gorumara National
Park, Neora Valley National Park and Singalila National Park. Extant wildlife include
Indian rhinoceros, Indian elephant, deer, bison, leopard, gaur, tiger, and crocodiles,
as well as many bird species. Migratory birds come to the state during the winter.
The high-altitude forests of
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Royal Bengal Tiger
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Singalila National Park shelter barking deer, red panda, chinkara, takin, serow,
pangolin, minivet and Kalij pheasants. The Sundarbans are noted for a reserve project
conserving the endangered Bengal tiger, although the forest hosts many other endangered
species, such as the Gangetic dolphin, river terrapin and estuarine crocodile.The
mangrove forest also acts as a natural fish nursery, supporting coastal fishes along
the Bay of Bengal. Recognizing its special conservation value, Sundarban area has
been declared as a Biosphere Reserve.
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