| Pong Dam Wild Life Sanctuary in Himachal Pradesh | |
| Iucn Category: | IV |
| Map: | India Himachal Pradesh |
| Location: | Himachal Pradesh, India |
| Nearest City: | Talwara |
| Coords: | 32.0167°N 81°W |
| Area: | 245km2 |
| Governing Body: | Himachal Pradesh |
Pong Dam Wild Life Sanctuary is a sanctuary in Himachal Pradesh, India. It covers 673 square kilometers. It was established in November 2002, under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. The sanctuary protects Maharana Pratap Sagar lake & wetland, which gained Ramsar Convention for International importance in 2002.[1]
220 bird species with 54 species of waterfowl and 27 fish species have been identified at Pong Dam Wild Life Sanctuary, located in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh in the 45 km long and 2 km wide stretch of the Beas River lake.
The main bird species reported are the bar-headed goose (Anser indicus), northern lapwing, ruddy shelduck, northern pintail, common teal, Indian spot-billed duck, Eurasian coot, red-necked grebe, black-headed gulls, plovers, black stork, terns, water-fowl and egrets. The main animals spotted in area around lake arebarking deer, sambar, wild boars, leopards and oriental small-clawed otters.The main fish species are mahseer, catla, mirror carp, singhara[2]
The main flora of the sanctuary The tree species of the forest area are acacia, jamun, shisham, mango, mulberry, ficus, kachanar, amla and prunus. A variety of shrubs, grasses and climbers have also been reported.[3]