The forest of the chosen Buddha
 Dr Sein Tu continues his explorations of Myanmar’s national parks.

TRADITION  has it that  Maha  Kathapa  was one of  those who  were chosen by the Gaudama Buddha to become a Buddha in the future, hence the name Alaungdaw, or Embryo Buddha. The (controversial) application of the name Alaungdaw to the collection of forests included in the present- day Alaungdaw Kathapa National Park refers to a Maha Kathapa, who was born in India and eventually came to Myanmar, died in 1272AD at the age of 100 years and was interred in a cave which later became sealed by itself. This cave, known as the Ashin (Lord) Maha Kathapa Cave, has, for centuries, been the destination of countless pilgrims. The National Park is a popular destination, especially during the Alaungdaw Kathapa Festival that is held every year in Tabaung (March).  Latest estimates of visitors to the area range from 20,000 people to 30,000. The National Park is home to a broad spectrum of wildlife including large mammals and 82 species of avifauna such as the tit-ti-too or red-wattled lapwing, thit tauk hnget or woodpeckers, wayaung: hnget or laughing thrushes,    zwae:    hnget or   white   throated



Alaungdaw Kathapa National Park; A leopard caught on film by camera traps.

babblers, hnget hsanwin:  wah or orioles, hgnet taw or drongos, Kyae:tamar or parakeets and hpo:khaun hnget or barbets. The broad spectrum of wildlife is due to the fact that the Alaungdaw Kathapa National Park (AKNP) includes within its boundaries the major portions of two of the country’s oldest and largest wildlife protected areas; the Patalon Reserved Forest and the Taungdwin Reserved Forest. The Patalon RF, established in 1893 and re-notified in 1917 covers an area of 274,755 acres. The Taungdwin RF was also established in 1893 and encompasses an area of 174,549 acres. The total area of the AKNP is 397,026 acres.  Key mammalian species that are protected in the AKNP are elephant, tiger, leopard, sambhur deer, serow goat antelope (Capricornis sumatrensis Bechstein), Asiatic bear (Selenarctos thibetanus thibetanus G.Cuvier) and the Asiatic bison or gaur (Bibos gaurus H. Smith).  The park is located in Sagaing Division and comprises parts of Mingin Township in Kalay District, and Kani and Yinmarbin Townships in Monywa District. It is approximately 100 miles west of Mandalay and situated between the Chindwin River on the east


courtesy of Wildlife Conservation Society Myanmar Program

and the Myittha River on the west. The principal forest cover of the Park consists of mixed deciduous forests featuring teak, pyinkado, padauk and some bamboo species such as the tin:wah: and waboe, Indaing Forest species such as In or bastard teak, and ingyin. Open pine forests along the upper ridges, and bamboo species such as hmyin and taik which produce bamboo brakes that combine with elephant grass or thet-kair that grows up to seven feet tall, on open areas in the forests called lwins, produce hospitable habitats for large mammal species.The topography of the region is characterised by valleys that run north and south, separated by  ridges 2,000 to 4,000 feet high, that make travel in an east-west direction difficult except along occasional transverse ridges. This area serves as the catchment area for the Patolon and Taungdwin Rivers. In cooperation with the Nature and Wildlife Conservation Division (NWCD) of the Forest Department, the

Forest Resources and Environment Development Association (FREDA), Woodland Travels Co. Ltd., the David Shepherd Foundation of England and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) of New York are engaged in carrying out environmental protection and tiger conservation work at AKNP. The whole-hearted cooperation being extended by the government to such endeavours by NGOs and the establishment of the Alaungdaw Kathapa National Park in 1989 underlines its determination to preserve the environment. This is being achieved through the sustainable use of forest resources, development of eco-tourism and promotion of public awareness and appreciation of the value of the natural environment and the biological richness and diversity of Myanmar’s forest heritage. .