Pong Dam Lake Wildlife Sanctuary

About the Pong Dam Lake Wildlife Sanctuary:

• Location: It is situated in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh.
• Pong Dam Lake (also known as Maharana Pratap Sagar) is a manmade reservoir formed due to the construction of Pong Dam on the Beas River in the wetland zone of Shivalik Hills.
• In 1983, the entire reservoir was declared a Wildlife Sanctuary by the Himachal Pradesh government.
• One of the largest man-made wetlands in Northern India, Pong Dam also serves as a sanctuary for the largest population of migratory birds, along with a number of endemic species.
• Pong Dam Lake was declared a Ramsar Site in November 2002.
• The climate of the region is subtropical.
• Flora:
  • There are several tree species that produce edible fruit for the birds.
  • There is also some submerged aquatic vegetation in the wetland, but pronounced seasonal changes in water level and shoreline do not support extensive areas of emergent vegetation.
  • The main tree species include Acacia, Jamun, Shisham, Mango, Mulberry, Ficus Kachnar, Amla, and Prunus.
• Fauna:  
  • It includes animals like Sambhar, Barking Deer, Wild Bear, Nilgai, Clawless Otter, and Leopards. 
  • Avifauna include Bar headed geese, Pintails, common pochards, coots, Grebes, Cormorants, Herons, Storks, angle fowls, peafowl, Grey partridges, etc.