Kazinag National Park or Qazinag National Park is a commissioned future national park in the Baramulla district in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. It is part of a proposal for a trans-Karakoram Peace park with Pakistan.
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History
Following the ceasefire after Kargil War, and based on mounting pressure to conserve the rare Markhor wild goat, the Government of India, based on the Wildlife Trust of India, commissioned a new national park near Uri close to the Line of Control, the international jurisdiction boundary with Pakistan. It was created after the Kargil War and based on the increasing pressure to protect the endangered and rare Markhor Wild Goat. After a recommendation of the Wildlife Trust of India, the Indian Government commissioned a new wildlife national park near the Line of Control in Uri, which is the international jurisdiction boundary with Pakistan. This national park is being set up by the Jammu Kashmir Government and is the fourth in the state with an aim to conserve the rare species of goats and other species like Brown Bear, Musk Deer and Leopards. This park was decided to be made out of the Limber and Lachipora wildlife sanctuaries and the Nagnari conservation reserve.
Climate
Kazinag is a temperate system, with warm summers and cold winters, and a temperature range of -20 to +30 °C. Precipitation is mainly in the form of snow in winter and rains in early spring with occasional showers during summer. Four distinct seasons can be classified during a year, viz. Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter.
Vegetation
Vegetation in Kazinag is dominated by coniferous forests with deodar (Cedrus deodara) at lower altitudes, fir (Abies pindrow) & spruce (Picea smithiana) at middle to upper elevations and kail (Pinus Wallichiana) is widely distributed from lower to upper elevations. Birch (Betula utilis) occur mainly in the subalpine zone whereas the other broad leaved forests include Prunus-Acer which occur in middle elevations and the Horse chestnut ( Aesculus indica) strands are distributed in lower elevations mainly along streams. The temperate scrub occurs at middle and lower elevations and is dominated by Indigofera, Spirea and Rosa. The sub-alpine and alpine scrub occurs at higher elevations and is dominated by Juniperus, Lonicera and salix. Alpine meadows occupying the highest elevations. Other shrub species include Rosa macrofolia and Viburnum grandiflorum that are dominant along nallas in lower elevations.
Fauna
Around 20 species of mammals, including some rare, threatened, endangered are found in within the limits of kazinag National park. Key animal species sighted are Markhor (capra falconeri), Himalayan Musk Deer (Moschus Crysogater), Himaliyan Brown Bear (Ursus artos), Himalayan black bear (Ursus thibetanus) and common leopard (Panthera pardus), Yellow Throated Martin (Martes flavigula), Himaliyan Marmot (Marmota caudate), Small Kashmir Flying Squirrel (Eoglaucomys fimbriatus) etc.
Avi-Fauna
The Kazinag National Park is home to about 120 Species of birds representing about 36 families which include Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), Impeyan or Monal Pheasant (Lophophorus impejanus), Koklas Pheasant (Catreus wallichii), Sparow Hawk (Accipiter nisus melaschistos), Snow Pigeon (Columba leuconota), The Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus), Himaliyan pied kingfisher (Ceryle lugubris), Lesser pied kingfisher (Ceryle rudis), Nutcracker (Nucifraga Caryocatactes), Jackdaw (Corvus monedula), Long tailed Minvet (Pericrocotus flammeus) Sooty Flycatcher (Muscicapa lineatus), Kashmir Red breasted Flycatcher (Muscicapa Superciliari) etc.
Butterflies
The Kazinag National Park is home to 17 Species of Butterflies which include Regal Apollo (Parnassius charltonius), Common BlueApollo (Parnassius hardvricket), Common red Apollo (Parnassius epaphus), Brown Argus (Dallacha hyagriva), Mountain Argus (Callerebia hyagriva), Meadow Brown (Maniola pulchara), Narrowbandede satyr (Aulocera brhamnius), Large Tortoise shell (Nympalis xanthomelas) etc.
Topography of Qazinag National Park
It is located at an altitude of 1800-4300 Msl and the terrain is rugged but can see many endangered species that are a treat for the eyes. One can find the fast vanishing Markhor, the national animal of Pakistan and it was also included in the list of the critically endangered species. This list was prepared by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. One can spot the beautiful Musk Deer, Brown Bears and leopards. The huge Himalayan Goats have a reddish-brown fur coat and the spiral horns and the long manes on the male goats that just add to the beauty. Nearly 20 species of animals are found in the limits of Kazinag National Park.
Where to Stay
Those who wish to visit the Qazinag National Park can get a place to stay in the guest house at Limber Wildlife Sanctuary. Also Alpine tents and sleeping bags are available for people who wish to go for such options.
Best Time to Visit
This national park has a temperature system with a range of -20 to +30 degree Celsius. Rains are in the form of snow in winters and occasional showers during summers and rains in the starting of the spring. The best time to visit for bird watching is from May to September and for those who wish to spot the mammals, should be here from April to May. The time period from June to August is also considered perfect to visit the location.