Every winter, a large number of migratory birds come to Myanmar for wintering, with many kinds and great activity

Migratory birds enter Kachin State and Lake Indocki to overwinter

(Migratory birds wintering at Lake Indokhi, Photo • Gosuai)

27 October 2021, Thunlin Ang (Myitkyina)

According to the Wildlife Sanctuary, Environment and Wildlife Conservation Authority, wintering migratory birds have arrived here to overwinter in the town of Banin, Kachin State.

It is understood that there are more than 40 kinds of wintering migratory birds that come to Indogki Lake every year, totaling more than 20,000. In the last week of October, more than 20 species of migratory birds have arrived here.

In the Indokji region, Director Wu Maung-wen of the Natural Environment and Wildlife Conservation Bureau said: "Wintering migratory birds have come here one after another. Winter is not a particularly cold time, and it has not all come. Grey-backed gulls, bald eagles and large vultures have arrived here. There are more than 40 species of migratory birds wintering in Lake Indoky, and the number is about 20,000. Since the coup d'état in Myanmar, the Indokhi Nature Reserve has also faced certain challenges. Gold mining is intensifying. Over there in the village of Meyran. Nothing happened during the day. At night, there is a lot of movement. Now the situation is more chaotic, so it cannot be passed (law enforcement). During the open season, local residents come here to cut firewood. Someone will convert the habitat of birds into farmland to cultivate. In situations like this, we will also sue them. ”

Workers engaged in natural environmental protection in Indochy said that in the Indokji region, gold mining practices for more than 20 years have adversely affected the lakes and organisms in the local watershed. The record-keeping and surveying staff at the site noted that in the second half of 2000, since the start of gold mining activities in the Indoqui region, the area has faced deforestation, soil erosion, the scarcity of fish and a number of other problems.

Lake Indokhi is the largest inland lake in Myanmar. The lake has an area of 100 square kilometers. The Total Area of the Indokie Wildlife Nature Reserve is 314.67 square miles. The reserve was established on March 4, 199. It is understood that there are 37 species of mammals, 350 species of birds, 99 species of waterfowl, 88 species of amphibians, 80 species of fish, and 50 species of butterflies in the Indokji Nature Reserve. In addition, there are 85 species of trees, 56 species of herbs, 11 species of bamboo, 14 species of herbs, 5 species of vines, and 70 species of orchids.

On 14 June 2017, France held the 29th Unesco Conference on Biosphere Reserves, and the Indogki Nature Reserve was included in the list of "World Biosphere Reserves" at this meeting.

Lake Indokhi is not only famous for its beautiful natural scenery, but also for the fact that in 1290 AD (1869 AD), a monk named Wu Dae built the Remasu Stupa here.

In 1905, during the colonial period, the site was named Mai Kun Zone; in 1921, the site was renamed Nanyinka Zone; in August 2004, the site was renamed Indoky Wildlife Nature Reserve, which included the Mai Kun Zone, the Nan Yin Ka Zone, the Nam Meng Zone, the MuJia Zone, the Indo Base Zone, and the 64,003 acres of strip woods, with a total area of 201383 acres.