Pong Dam Lake Wildlife Sanctuary :Hundreds of buffaloes grazing in restricted zones (Samkehar, Bathu, Panalath) near the wetland, **violating sanctuary norms

1. Location & Origin:

   • Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh; formed by Pong Dam (1975) on Beas River in Shivalik hills.
   • Man-made reservoir (Maharana Pratap Sagar); India’s highest earth-fill dam.

2. Ecological Significance:

   • Ramsar Site (2002): One of largest man-made wetlands in North India (~245 sq. km).
   • Trans-Himalayan Flyway: Hosts 220+ bird species (54 waterfowl), including:
     • Bar-headed geese(migrate from Central Asia) , Common pochards, Cormorants, Grey partridges.
   • Fauna: Sambar, Leopard, Nilgai, Clawless Otter, Barking Deer.
   • Flora: Submerged vegetation, grasslands, forests (Eucalyptus, Acacia, Shisham).

3. Governance & Threats:

   • Legal Protection: Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972; Ramsar Convention norms.
   • Major Threats:
     • Illegal grazing (habitat degradation).
     • Invasive species, pollution, unsustainable tourism.