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CLIMATE
There have been various descriptions of
the habitats in Kanha tiger reserve. The Kanha
management plan of 1988-89 , for
example, distinguished ten-vegetation cover
types within the parks core area
as follows. Figures in parentheses give the
percentage of the core area for each type. |
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1.Sal (defined as a zone with over 50% sal trees, shorea
robusta): mostly in valleys (18.08%)
2.Sal/bamboo: mainly lower slopes (5.07%)
3.Mixed Sal, together with Jamun, Saja, and other
species (13.21%)
4.Mixed Sal/bamboo (7.34%)
5.Mixed : upper plateau areas (16.05%)
6.Mixed bamboo (24.8%)
7.Valley grasslands (6.4%)
8.Dadar (plateau) grasslands (2.61%)
9.(2.88%)
10.Agriculture and human habitation (3.5%)
Another more immediately helpful
classification of kana habitats is that of
Canadian biologist Renata Jaremovic, who is now based in
Sal forest : Chital, Sambar, Wild Boar, Langur, Tiger,
Leopard, Jungle Cat, Sloth Bear, Wild Dog. Sal/Mixed
Bamboo: Wild Boar, Langur, Tiger,
Leopard, Sambar, Gaur.
Miscellaneous
Mixed Bamboo: same species as
above. Miscellaneous Mixed Deciduous: Langur, Tiger,
Leopard, Sambar, Gaur, Chowsingha, Sloth Bear.
Grasslands: Chital, Barasingha, Blackbuck,
Chowsingha, (on plateaux) wild bear, Langur, Tiger,
Leopard.
Habitations: used by species accustomed to
humans.
The
Sal tree (Shorea Robusta)
and various species of
bamboo (especially dendrocalamus
strictus) are the most prominent features of
Kanha extensive flora. These species have
complex distinctive flowering
patterns, with Sal blooming annually over a period of
several month and deciduous throughout the year and many
bamboo species flowering only once
during and extremely long life cycle that may span
several decades.
Officials have estimated that
Kanha is home to more than
600 species of flowering plants. A
list of 50 water
plants was included in
the Kanha management plan of 1988-89 (kotwal and Parihar
1989). Aquatic plants such as water
lilies are of considerable importance to the Barasingha.
In kanha national park: a Handbook (1991), H.S.Panwar
points out that Kanha rich flora is largely
due to the variety of landforms and
soil types as well as
to the substantial amount of annual rainfall, which
averages about 1,600 mm.
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