Myanmar is endowed with a rich diversity of habitat types arising largely from its unusual ecological diversity. It is home to nearly 300 known mammal species, 300 reptiles, and about 100 bird species.


          The country is also a haven for about 7000-plant life. The potential worth of plant species in Myanmar is considerable.




          



Since Myanmar considers such arich
pool of biodiversity as an important national asset, the government of the Union of Myanmar has drawn up strict regulations to protect its reservoir of biodiversity and biological resources.

Fauna

          The area is comperatively rich in wildlife a habital, for large mammals such as sambhor ( cellics unicblor) deer ( Mutiaus mun/ jac ), wild pig ( sus scrofa) , tiger ( Panthra tigrls), and Himalayan bear ( Selenarctos thibetanus) all fairly and widely distributed. Tracks of elephants ( Elephas marcimus ) are commonly seen; they appear to occur typically in small groups of up to a dozen roaming freely in the park.

          The total number of elephant in the park has been estimated by MTE personnel as about. 200. The park is also a favourite habital of tiger. While the frequent tracks of larger mammals such as gaur. Banteng, samhur and tiger show they are relatively abundent, they are elusive and not easily seen. This is probably due to illegal hunting. The Tiger is now completely protected under the Wildlife and Natural Areas Law enforced in 1994. The primary threat facing tigers are poaching and illegal hunting for tiger bones, skin and parts for use as ingredients in Asian traditional medicines.

          The birds most commonly seen along streams and rivers are the red-wattled lapwing, Wag-tails and sand pipers along rocky streams at higher altitudes. The considerable variety of forest birds includes several species of woodpeckers, laughing thrushes, babblers, orioles drangos mynas, parakeets, barbets, crucals, jungle fowls pigeons and doves etc.

Animals in Yangon Zoo