Rakhine Yoma Elephant Range

Rakhine Yoma Elephant Range is a protected area in Myanmar's Rakhine Yoma mountains, covering about 1,756 km² (678 sq mi) of evergreen and mixed deciduous forest at an elevation of 20–1,270 m (66–4,167 ft).^[2]

Rakhine Yoma Elephant Range
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
Location in Myanmar
Location	Thandwe and Gwa Townships, Rakhine State,  Myanmar
Nearest city	Gwa
Coordinates	18°00′0″N 94°45′0″E / 18.00000°N 94.75000°E / 18.00000; 94.75000
Area	1,755.7 km^2 (677.9 sq mi)^[1]
Established	2002^[1]
Governing body	Myanmar Forest Department^[1]

Rakhine Yoma Elephant Range was established for the protection of the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus). It harbours extensive tracts of bamboo (Melocanna baccifera), which provide shelter for the endangered Arakan forest turtle (Heosemys depressa).^[3]

Wildlife recorded during a camera trap survey in 2000 included large Indian civet (Viverra zibetha), clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), Asiatic golden cat (Catopuma temminckii) and leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis).^[4][5]

In 2001, Bufo crocus was discovered by a stream in the sanctuary at an elevation of 83 m (272 ft).^[6] In 2001, the bent-toed geckos Cyrtodactylus ayeyarwadyensis and Cyrtodactylus wakeorum were discovered in the sanctuary and described as a new species in 2003.^[7]

The presence of western hoolock gibbon (Hoolock hoolock) was confirmed during surveys in 2008.^[8] Wildlife present also includes gaur (Bos gaurus), sun bear (Helarctos malayanus), white-rumped vulture (Gyps bengalensis), pale-capped pigeon (Columba punicea), white-winged duck (Asarcornis scutulata) and beautiful nuthatch (Sitta formosa).^[9]

References

1. World Database on Protected Areas (2019). "Rakhine Yoma Elephant Range". Protected Planet.
2. Beffasti, L.; Gallanti, V., eds. (2011). "Rakhine Yoma Elephant Range" (PDF). Myanmar Protected Areas: Context, Current Status and Challenges. Milano, Yangon: Istituto Oikos, Biodiversity and Nature Conservation Association. pp. 84–85.
3. Platt, S. G.; Myo, K. M.; Ko, W. K.; Maung, A.; Rainwater, T. R. (2010). "Field observations and conservation of Heosemys depressa in the Rakhine Yoma Elephant Range of western Myanmar" (PDF). Chelonian Conservation and Biology. 9 (1): 114–119. doi:10.2744/CCB-0813.1. S2CID 86775422.^{[dead link]}
4. Than Zaw; Saw Htun; Saw Htoo Tha Po; Myint Maung; Lynam, A. J.; Kyaw Thinn Latt; Duckworth, J. W. (2008). "Status and distribution of small carnivores in Myanmar". Small Carnivore Conservation. 38: 2–28.
5. Than Zaw; Than Myint; Saw Htun; Saw Htoo Tha Po; Kyaw Thinn Latt; Myint Maung; Lynam A. J. (2014). "Status and distribution of smaller felids in Myanmar" (PDF). Cat News (Special Issue 8): 24–30.
6. Wogan, G. O.; Win, H.; Thin, T.; Lwin, K. S.; Shein, A. K.; Kyi, S. W.; Tun, H. (2003). "A new species of Bufo (Anura: Bufonidae) from Myanmar (Burma), and redescription of the little known species Bufo stuarti Smith 1929" (PDF). Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences. 54 (7): 141−153.^{[dead link]}
7. Bauer, A. M. (2003). (PDF). Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences. 54 (25): 463–498. S2CID 129933095. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-12-20.
8. Geissmann, T.; Grindley, M.; Momberg, F.; Lwin, N.; Moses, S. (2009). "Hoolock gibbon and biodiversity survey and training in southern Rakhine Yoma, Myanmar" (PDF). Gibbon Journal. 5: 7–27.
9. Aung Kyaw (2014). Case study on Rakhine Yoma (PDF). Mekong Protected Areas and Climate Change Implications for Livelihoods and Development.