Tawny Owl
<p>The biogeographical landscape of Kashmir is dramatised by a wide range of elevations, each with its own unique climate. Flanked by the Himalaya to the west with its enchanting high-altitude lakes, and the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab rivers bisecting the low-lying land into fertile river valleys, it is no wonder that the northernmost region of India is home to birds of every hue.</p>
<p>One of the most important Protected Areas in Jammu and Kashmir, the Dachigam Wildlife Sanctuary is home to the world’s last viable population of hangul or the Kashmir stag. It is a catchment area of the Dal Lake, and divided into an upper and lower region. Its range of altitudes (between 1,700 and 4,300 m.) give rise to deep ravines, rocky outcrops, steep wooded slopes and sprawling alpine pastures. Once the exclusive hunting grounds of the Maharaja of Kashmir, the forests of Dachigam are home to over 190 species of birds such as the Western Tragopan, Himalayan Monal, Koklass Pheasant, Golden Eagle, Mountain Hawk-Eagle, Tawny Owl, and Lammergeier, among others. Meet some more of its avian residents on the next page.</p>
<p><span style="font-size:12px;"><strong>Photo: Parvez Shagoo.</strong></span></p>
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