Chatthing Wildlife Sanctuary

Location
Located between 23 36'N and 92'32'E in Kanbulu town ship of Sagaing Division.

Area
103.55 square miles.

Year of Establishment
Established in 1941.

Approach
Yangon to Mandalay by car /rail /and flight. Mandalay to Shwe Bo by car and Shwe Bo to Chatthin 80 miles by car.

Characteristic
• Habitat for the endemic deer (Myanmar Shwe Tha Min)
• Endemic Birds (white throated Babbler). Other Various species of Wild animals.
• Study to the medicinal plants, climber and Bio diversity museum.

Wildlife
Macaca species, barking deer, wild boar, wild dog, leopard, cat species, bats and Guano species, amphibian species and 158 species of birds and approximately 1530 numbers of Thamin reside in the park.

Objectives
(a) To conserve and protect the Dry Forest Ecosystem and related biological species.
(b) To preserve one of the World's endangered animals, Thamin species. (Cervus eldi Thamin) which can be found only in Myanmar and to maintain an optimum number for the existence of this species.
(c) To establish an out-door laboratory to study the ecology of Thamin and the biodiversity.
(d) To establish a center for public recreation and natural environmental education.
(e) To upgrade the sanctuary to promote eco-tourism.

Forest vegetative type
• Low Indaing Forests.
• High Indaing Forests.
• Flooded Indaing Forests.
• Upper Mixed Deciduous Forests Wild life
Macaca species, barking deer, wild boar, wild dog, leopard, cat species, bats and Guano species, amphibian species and 158 species of birds and approximately 1530 numbers of Thamin reside in the park.

Medicinal plants
Altogether 69 species of medicinal plants and herbs have recorded in the latest inventory survey.

Conservation development and Research program
(a) Conservation of wildlife and natural forests.
(b) Establishment of natural regeneration and plantation in the buffer-zero and taungya encroachment areas.
(c) Construction of rest houses in Kye-In to facilitate eco tourism schemes.
(d) Education works for conserving natural ecology with the assistance and aid of the Smithsonion Institution from the United States of America.
(e) With the assistance and aid of Smithsonian Institution,
        • Commencing from 1995, research works on data collection by Radio-telemetry and other advance techniques have been carried out for the World endangered species; Thamin and its ecology.
      • Research works on Dry Forest habitat species and their phonological characteristics are begin conducted.
       • Commencing from 1996, Bird banding and survey on the occurrence and movement of resident forest birds in the dry forest have been carried out.
          • Commencing from July, 1998, research on Herpeto-fauna has been carried out.
           •Initiating insect survey since October, 1998.
          • Commencing from April, 1998, research on Taw-Hkwe and other carnivorous. Wild dogs, the main predators to Thamin, are being carried out.
(f) Establishment of a small biodiversity museum with survey works, research works and collection of data and scientific specimens.

Opportunities for Study and Recreation
(a) Study of the Dry Forest ecosystem.
(b) Enjoyment of the natural beauty of the famous Kye-In wetlans.
(c) Study on the advance research works on wildlife.
(d) Study on the medicinal plants, climber and biodiversity museum in chatthin Wildlife sanctuary.

Accommodation facilities
Rest house in San Myaung and another temporary building, each of which can accommodate 4 guests.

Note : The best time to visit is from November to April.