Dampa Tiger Reserve is the largest wildlife sanctuary in Mizoram, covering an area of 500 sq km. It is located in the north-western border of Mizoram sharing an 80 km long international border with Bangladesh. A biodiversity hotspot, it is home to an amazing variety of mammals including elephant, leapord, tiger, bear, gaur, binturong, dhole, hoolock gibbon and different primates. Dampa is also rich in avifauna ranging from hornbills, wood pigeons, jungle fowls and pheasants.
The Dampa Tiger Reserve is probably one of the last few safe havens for the tiger and a host of other animal and bird species. Low altitude galliformes are visible and the three species of Chloropsis found in India are endemic to these fabulous forests. The reserve consists of moist deciduous forests in the lower reaches and evergreen and semi-evergreen forests with the natural grassland at higher altitudes.
Dampa Tiger Reserve
The lower reaches of the area comprises of deep valleys with extensive flat land along the river namely Keisalam, Seling and Aivapui which finally drained into the river Khawthlagtuipui. It was declared a tiger reserve in 1994 and is part of Project Tiger. Dampa Tiger Reserve is not easily accessible unlike other park where you can ride on a four wheeler but one has to walk through the forest if one wishes to sight animals.