A Short Report on the study of different Ficu...

A Short Report on the study of different Ficus species and Fruit-eating faunal Diversity in Aizawl Zoological Park and Dampa Tiger Reserve, Mizoram, India

Author Name : Shampa Sarkar

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56025/IJARESM.2024.1208242613

ABSTRACT The State of Mizoram is extremely rich in flora and faunal diversity having numerous rare and endemic species of plants and animals. Amongst all the States of India, Mizoram has the highest area under forest cover in terms of percentage of geographical area. The Aizawl Zoological Park is maintained by the State Forest Department of Mizoram, India. Dampa Tiger Reserve of western Mizoram of India is located at Indo-Myanmar hotspot in the Lushai hills is one of the remotes Tiger Reserve of the country and immensely rich in floral and faunal biodiversity. Ficus trees are ecologically important and serve as keystone species in the tropical forests as many seed dispersal animal species live and feed on nutritionally rewarding Ficus fruits and Ficus are important in forest restoration. Different types of figs and wildlife assemblages both in Dampa Tiger Reserve and Aizawl Zoological Park were noted during the study over a period of 10 months by recording direct sighting or evidence of vertebrate fauna which has immense ecological importance. Fruit eating animals help plant seed to new locations and thus expansion of natural population and biodiversity.