Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary

Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
Location	Bangladesh
Nearest city	Chittagong
Coordinates
Area	7763.94 hectares
Established	1986
Governing body	Bangladesh Forest Department

Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary is an IUCN Category IV protected area located in the Chittagong District of the Chittagong Division in southeastern Bangladesh.

History

The Sanctuary was established in 1986 through Gazette Notification XII/For-I/84/174. Covering nearly 7764 Ha., the predominant vegetation was originally garjan forest, but illegal logging and encroachment for cultivation resulted in a fragmented and degraded habitat. By 2003, secondary scrub covered approximately 44% of the Sanctuary, but various replanting projects have been undertaken with donor support. This was the first wildlife sanctuary in Bangladesh. There are 15 villages in and around the Sanctuary. The Sanctuary is home to several endangered timber species.

Wildlife

Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary is a major corridor for the movement of Asian Elephant between Bangladesh and Myanmar. Mammal species in the Sanctuary include muntjac deer, fishing cat, wild boar and Indian crested porcupine. Birds include the black-rumped flameback, coppersmith barbet, chestnut-headed bee-eater, green bee-eater, greater coucal, house swift, spotted dove, black drongo, jungle myna and Asian pied starling

Administration and protection

The park is under the jurisdiction of Bangladesh Forest Department of the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF), and is managed by them in cooperation with local communities. The community patrols are led by women in green saris. They are from the local community and are funded by U.S. Agency for International Development and Germany's development agency GTZ. They receive stipends of $50 for their service.