Kaptai National Park

Kaptai National Park is a noteworthy national stop of Bangladesh arranged in Rangamati District. It was set up in 1999 and its territory is 5,464.78 hectares(13,498.0 Acres). Before revelation of the national stop it was Sitapahar Reserve. The first Sitapahar Reserve territory was 14,448.0 acres.Out of this a region of 100 sections of land have been dereserved for the foundation of the mechanical bequest at Kaptai. It is around 57 kilometer from Chittagong city. It includes with two Ranges in particular Kaptai Range and Karnaphuli Range. Kaptai National stop is being overseen under CHT South Forest Division. It is truly essential as a result of first time teak (Tectona grandis) manor in Bangladesh was begun from this region. Its timberland compose is blended evergreen backwoods. In 2009 IPAC(Integrated Protected Area Co-administration) venture began its exercises in this secured area.[1]

Socio-economic context

The NP is arranged inside the Kaptai City and since the normal landscape is extremely appealing and it gets heaps of guests all year. Almost 60 nearby individuals are utilized as specialist organizations to the visitors and the administrations extend from transport, sellers, eateries and blessing shop. The NP has high network improvement openings through eco-tourism if legitimately arranged. The Park additionally gives subsistence to neighborhood individuals through NTFPs. Encompassing populace of the National Park territory is around 3000. Additionally it is near the biggest pool of Bangladesh which is Kaptai lake, another vacationer destination.[2]

Wildlife diversity

Kaptai National Park is novel for its noteworthy fantastic Teak estates of 1873, 1878 and 1879, the beginning stages of current Forest Management in this sub-mainland. These estates have investigated common woods and backings untamed life. 

Eminent creatures are Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), western hoolock gibbon (Hylobates hoolock), Phayre's leaf monkey (Trachypithecus phayrei), topped leaf monkey (Trachypithecus pileatus), dholes (Cuon alpinus), wild pig (Sus scrofa), sambar (Cervus unicolor), yapping deer (Muntiacus muntjak), blurred panther (Neofelis nebulosa), shake (Python molurus), etc.[1] Among these, elephants, obfuscated panthers and dholes are basically imperiled types of Bangladesh. In spite of the fact that elephants and gibbons are genuinely normal, dholes and sambars are extremely uncommon. 

It is a harbor of numerous wild feathered creatures. Prominent feathered creatures are red junglefowl (gallus), kalij bird (Lophura leucomelanos), lineated barbet (Magalaima lineata), oriental pied hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris), Indian roller (Coracias benghalensis), cows egret (Bubulcus ibis), incredible egret (Casmerodius albus), more noteworthy racket-followed drongo (Dicrurus paradiseus), wilderness myna (Acridotheres fuscus), substantial blue flycatcher (Cyornis magnirostris) etc.[1] 

A camera trap venture in 2014 caught first historically speaking live photograph of obfuscated panther in wild in Bangladesh. Additionally extensive blue flycatcher, another winged animal types of the nation was discovered[3][4]

Flora diversity

There are numerous imperative plants accessible in the Kaptai National Park, for example, kali garjan (Dipterocarpus turbinatus), gutgutia (Fortium serratum), bohera (Terminalia belerica), pitali (Trewia nudiflora), pitraj (Aphanamixis polystachya), jarul (Lagerstroemia speciosa), chatim (Alstonia scholaris), ashok (Saraca indica), mehogoni (Swietenia mahagoni), toon (Toona ciliata), dharmara (Stereospermum personatum), udal (Sterculia villosa), civit (Swintonia floribunda), bandorhola (Duabanga grandiflora), barmala (Callicarpa arbores), amloki (Phyllanthus embelica), horitoki (Terminalia chebula), dhakijam (Syzygium grande), teak (Tectona grandis), sonalu (Cassia fistula), champaphul (Michelia champaca), bonsimul (Salmalia insignis) and so on. It is particularly well known for its Burmese teak manors. [1]

Threat assessment

The fundamental dangers to this NP are unlawful felling of economically essential teak, escalated accumulation of fuel wood and over brushing of domesticated animals. Fuel wood accumulation takes numerous structures, from gathering of dead wood to reaping of branches and entire stem which if not economically done may harm the biological equalization of this NP. Persistent dry seasons and common struggle have brought about an expansive increment in the quantity of individuals along the limits of the recreation center over the most recent three decades. The vast majority of these individuals claim animals and participate in subsistence agribusiness. The nearness of substantial quantities of domesticated animals has expanded weight on the national park.[2]