Shwesettaw Wildlife Sanctuary

• Shwesettaw

  Wildlife Sanctuary

• Located

  between 20° 12′ N and 94° 35′ E in Minbu, Setote-taya, Saku and Ngapeh

  Townships of Magwe Division.

• 213.4

  square miles.

of Establishment

• Established

  as Wildlife Sanctuary in 1940 and strengthened with more staff in 1985

• Yangon

  to Magwe, 331 miles by car and Magwe to Minbu, 2 miles by river-route

  and Minbu to Shwesettaw, 30 miles by car.

• (a) To

  protect and conserve the endemic Shwethamin (Cervus eldithamin)

  deer of Myanmar.

• (b) To

  conserve the “Than-dahat” forest which is part of the Dry Zone Ecosystem

  and natural habitat of Shwethamin.

• (c) To

  conserve the important Mon and Manth watersheds.

• (d) To

  sustain the environs of the cherished Shwesettaw Buddhist heritage

/ Vegetative Types

• (a) Than-dahat

  Forest

• (b) Low

  ‘Indaing’ (Dry Dipterocarp) Forest

• (c) Dry

  Deciduous Forest

• Bear,

  Gaur, Sambar, Barking Deer, Eld’s deer, Wild boar and various types

  of wild cats, wild dogs and birds.In accordance with 1998 inventory,

  the population of thamin is increasing by (1088 ± 269) and the

  rare Star turtoise (Geochelone platynota) is also present.

Development and Research   Programmes

• (a) Conservation

  of natural forests.

• (b) Conservation

  and maintenance of the buffer-Zone.

• (c) Conservation

  and protection of wildlife including the Myanmar Shwe Thamin.

• (d) Inventory

  and research on the natural habitats and ecosystem of shwethamin.

• (e) Upgrading

  of the area to promote ecotourism.

• (f) Educational

  programmes of environment conservation during religious festivals

for Study and Recreation

• (a) Observation

  of the habits and habitats of the Myanmar Shwe Thamin.

• (b) Observation

  of the Dry Zone Ecosystem and wildlife.

• (c) Pilgrimage

  and homage to the footprint of Buddha.

• (d) Observation

  of life and habits of the rare reptile Star tortoise.

• (e) Observation

  of the culture of the Chin ethnic nationals.

• (f) Accommodation

  for 20 persons at 2 guest houses.