Certificate - Etheses - Saurashtra University

these are replaced by birch and Rhododendron. Unlike in the eastern parts of
Himachal Pradesh, there are very few patches of oak. Oaks are rather very sparse in
the sanctuary. Quercus ilex forms scattered patched around villages towards lower
fringes of the park. Bamboo brakes are rather sparse in the sanctuary.
The alpine vegetation in Kugti wildlife sanctuary is divisible into tall herbaceous
formations in the valley bottoms, extensive patches of golden fern (Osmunda
claytoniana), moist mixed meadows on the higher slopes, alpine scrub and alpine
scree slopes towards the higher slopes. The valley bottoms are heavily degraded and
dominated be excessive growth of opportunistic herbs such as Circsium involucratus,
Cirsium falconeri, Morina longifolia, and Rumex nepalensis, Impatiens sulcata. Part
of the valley bottom is also dominated by knot weed (Polygonum polystachyum).
Towards higher slopes the alpine vegetation is laden with a variety of attractive herbs
such as species of Potentilla, Polygonum, Geum, Geranium, Pedicularis, Aster,
Eregeron, Phlomis, Delphinium, Ranunculus, Draba, Saxifraga, Sedum, Senecio,
Saussurea, Cyananthus, Campanula and Meconopsis aculeata. Photograph 3 shows
Juniperus spp., Rhododentron campanulatum and Betula spp. in study area.
3.4 Faunal diversity
The Kugti wildlife sanctuary harbours as many as 23 species of mammals, over 150
species of birds and a variety of invertebrates. The mammals found in the sanctuary
are given in Appendix II. Despite a heavy pressure by domestic livestock, this
sanctuary still supports a variety of mountain ungulates. The sanctuary is also well
known for a sizeable population of Himalayan brown bear. Besides brown bear
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