THE Htamathi Wildlife Sanctuary, covering an area of 531,456 acres and located in Hkamti Township and Homalin Township in Sagaing Region, has begun installing camera traps to monitor the survival of rare species such as the Bengal tiger, the Malayan bear, and other uncommon wildlife, according to the administrative office of the sanctuary.
To protect the species and their ecosystems in the sanctuary, camera traps are normally installed every year in October and November every year and removed in February to monitor rare species and their populations. However, this year, camera traps were installed in January due to battery problems.
“Last year, camera traps were set up in one area, and this year, the effort has expanded to three areas. The main purpose is to monitor rare species such as the Bengal tiger, the Malayan bear, and other wildlife. Outposts have been established within the Htamathi Wildlife Sanctuary, and patrols are ongoing to ensure the area remains secure and free from illegal activities.
The number of cameras installed will be confirmed when the teams return. It is a matter of pride for the country, particularly to witness the rare Bengal tiger grazing,” said U Zaw Naing Tun, a ranger of the Htamathi Wildlife Sanctuary. There are nine species of tigers in the world, six of which are currently extant, with two —the Bengal tiger and the Sumatran tiger — found in Myanmar’s Htamathi Wildlife Sanctuary and Taninthayi Wildlife Sanctuary.
The endangered Bengal tiger occurs in 13 Asian countries, and national efforts are underway to prevent population decline due to poaching, with Myanmar having fully banned the hunting of tigers.
The Htamathi Wildlife Sanctuary stretches from the Nwe Tamein mountain range in the east to the Chindwin Valley in the west, encompassing numerous lakes, streams, and waterfalls, and is home to 57 species of mammals, 332 species of birds, 67 species of fish, 77 species of amphibians, 432 species of plants—including 19 species of medicinal plants, 14 species of bamboo, eight species of rattan, 23 species of aquatic plants, 18 species of grasses, and 16 species of orchids — reflecting a rich and diverse ecosystem.
Last year, 24 camera traps were installed in the Htamathi Wildlife Sanctuary to monitor the movement of wild animals, successfully recording Bengal tigers, Malayan and Himalayan bears, elephants, and 25 other rare species. This year, camera traps continue to be used to document the distribution of rare species while supporting the conservation of their migration routes, ecosystems, and food chains.
The Htamathi Wildlife Sanctuary, home to numerous rare species of wildlife, birds, and plants, was established as a wildlife sanctuary in May 1974. An administrative office was established in Homalin on 1 September 1994, to oversee conservation activities, and the sanctuary was designated an ASEAN Heritage Park on 8 October 2019.
Nyein Thu (MNA)/TH
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