Kelatha Wildlife Sanctuary


Kelatha Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area in Myanmar stretching over. It was established in 1942. It harbours evergreen and mixed deciduous forest at an elevation of in Bilin Township, Mon State.

Location

This sanctuary is near to the town of Taung Sun which is from the town of Belin. The sanctuary is located on the western side of the Railway line linking Taung Sun and Kyaik Hto railway stations. There are roads all along the boundary of the sanctuary. The topography of the sanctuary is mostly flat with few undulating hills.

Description

The sanctuary receives south-west Monsoon rains every year. The rainfall recorded is about per year. The sanctuary receives heavy rainfall in June, July and August every year. The Shwe Parami Forest Monastery and the Kelatha pagoda is the famous pilgrimage site on the hillock inside the sanctuary. The Keltha Pagoda is situated on high mountain on the edge of the Sittaung lowland Valley. The seaside view from the mountain has made it a major tourism destination.

Area

The area of the sanctuary was however, due to denotification of for Prison Department housing complex and for mining area of acres for Taung Zun quarry mine, the area is reduced to.

Biodiversity

The prevailing forest type in Kelatha Wildlife Sanctuary is mixed deciduous forest and evergreen forest. Teak, Antiaris toxicaria, Mesua ferrea, Pygeum anomalum, Ficus oligodon, Diospyros discolor, Baccaurea flaccida, Dipterocarpus alatus are the important tree species. Amherstia nobilis is endemic to Myanmar.
In 1996, Sambar deer, wild boar , serow and barking deer species were reported to occur in Kelatha Wildlife Sanctuary. Its fauna comprises 69 bird species, 17 mammals, 71 butterfly species, 12 beetle species and 14 reptile species.