Mammals of Kashmir

 Lachipora Sanctuary is named after village Lachipora, which lies within the catchment fringing the protected area (Bacha 2000). The Sanctuary lies c. 90 km west of Srinagar and occupies the north bank of the River Jhelum. It is bounded to the north by Kakau Forest in Langet Forest Division, to the south by Maidan Forest, to the southeast by the River Jhelum, to the west by the ceasefire line and to the east by Bagna and Limber Forests (Department of Wildlife Protection 1987). The terrain is montane, with gentle to steep slopes, sometimes broken by huge rocky cliffs. In the upper reaches, the folds are thrown into a number of inaccessible undulations, enclosing narrow gullies, locally called nars (Bacha 2000). Lachipora was established as a sanctuary primarily to protect the Markhor Capra falconeri (Department of Wildlife Protection 1987). As the elevation varies from 1,600 to 3,300 m, the vegetation also varies from broadleaf forest through coniferous forests to alpine grassland/meadows. The broadleaf forest consists of Horse Chestnut and Birch, woodlands of Aesculus indica, Juglans regia, Acer cappadocium association, Betula utilis and Abies pindrow. The coniferous forests have pure Deodar Cedrus deodara stands, dotted with isolated Pinus griffithii. Blue Pine forests are just the reverse with P. griffithii dominating and scattered C. deodara. The Silver Fir woodland, found on steep dry slopes up to 3,500 m consists of Abies pindrow, Picea smithiana and Pinus griffithii, with scattered Betula utilis in the higher reaches. The alpine meadows pastures, above the tree line, are locally called margs by graziers. The dominant vegetation is herbaceous, with stunted bushes and isolated trees in folds. Primula, Potentilla, Caltha, Inula, Gentiana, Anemone and Corydalis are some of the common genera. Woody clumps consist of Rhododendron and Junipers.