Sirohi

Sirohi National Park is a small protected area in Senapati District of Manipur, in northeastern India, covering approximately 41.33 square kilometres. Established in 1982, it is one of several national parks in Manipur protecting the forested hill ecosystems of the Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot. The park lies in the Senapati hills, protecting subtropical and montane forest habitats at elevations ranging from approximately 700 to 1,600 metres. Although small in area, Sirohi is significant as part of the larger forested landscape of the Manipur hills that provides habitat connectivity between major protected areas in the region. The park is named after the Sirohi Hill range within its boundaries.

Sirohi's forest supports fauna typical of the Manipur hill zone within the broader Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot. Hoolock gibbons inhabit the canopy and their characteristic morning calls are a feature of the forest. Slow lorises are present in the nocturnal fauna. Sambar and barking deer are the principal large ungulates. Small Indian civets and large Indian civets are relatively common in the forest. The bird diversity of the Manipur hills is exceptional, and Sirohi's forest likely supports numerous species from the rich Indo-Chinese avifauna characteristic of the region, including various babblers, laughingthrushes, and sunbirds. The park may support small populations of tigers and leopards as part of the broader Manipur hill landscape.

The vegetation transitions from subtropical semi-evergreen forest at lower elevations to subtropical broadleaf hill forest and oak-dominated montane forest higher up. Oaks (Quercus species) and chestnuts are prominent in the upper zones. Subtropical species including Schima wallichii, Castanopsis, and Machilus (machilas) form the main canopy. Bamboo is abundant throughout, with multiple species forming dense groves. Epiphytic orchids and ferns are diverse in the moister, higher-elevation forest. Rhododendrons appear on exposed ridges. The forest understory is rich in medicinal plants used in traditional Meitei and Naga medicine. The landscape mosaic includes jhum (shifting cultivation) fallows in various stages of regeneration alongside primary forest.

Sirohi lies within the Manipur Hills fold belt, a complex zone of folded Eocene and Miocene sedimentary rocks—primarily sandstones, siltstones, and shales—intruded by igneous rocks and affected by thrust faulting associated with the India-Asia collision. The hill ranges rise steeply from the Imphal Valley to the west. Stream erosion has created a landscape of narrow ridges and steep V-shaped valleys. The ophiolite belt (ancient oceanic crust) that characterises parts of the Manipur Hills and runs through the adjacent Nagaland Hills is a regionally distinctive geological feature. Soils are thin, easily eroded, and acidic, which limits agricultural potential and historically helped preserve forest cover on steeper slopes.

Sirohi experiences a humid subtropical to montane climate, with very high rainfall from the southwest monsoon (June to September). Annual precipitation is typically 1,800–2,500 mm, though variability is high depending on topographic exposure. The monsoon brings frequent mist and cloud cover that can persist for days, maintaining extremely high humidity. Winters are cool to cold, particularly at higher elevations where frost is possible. The brief dry season from December to March offers the most comfortable conditions for outdoor activities. The generally moist climate, even outside monsoon season, reflects the park's position in one of Asia's highest-rainfall zones.

The Sirohi hills are part of the traditional territory of Naga and Meitei communities of Manipur. Shifting cultivation has been practised in the hills for centuries; the mosaic of forest, fallow, and cultivation that results is characteristic of the landscape. The village of Sirohi and surrounding settlements maintain traditional governance systems under village councils that regulate resource use. The region was part of the Kingdom of Manipur until it merged with independent India in 1949. Post-independence development brought roads and increased outside connection to these hills, significantly changing the economy and resource use patterns. Traditional knowledge of the forest, including medicinal plants, remains a living tradition among hill communities.

Sirohi National Park was established in 1982 under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. The declaration was part of a broader effort by the Government of Manipur to extend protected area coverage across the state's diverse hill ecosystems. Management has been challenging throughout the park's history due to the security situation in Manipur, which limited Forest Department field operations for extended periods during the decades of insurgency. More recent improvements in the security situation have allowed more active management including wildlife surveys and community engagement. The small size of the park highlights the importance of the surrounding village forest landscape for maintaining viable wildlife populations.

Sirohi is rarely visited by tourists; it is primarily of interest to wildlife researchers and specialist birders exploring Manipur's rich avifauna. Marked trails are limited; visitors typically engage local guides from surrounding villages for forest walks. The forest interior offers opportunities to hear hoolock gibbons and encounter the distinctive birdlife of the Manipur hills. The ridgeline views on clearer days extend across the forested hill landscape. The park is best combined with broader birding itineraries through Manipur, which may include Keibul Lamjao National Park (home of the endangered brow-antlered deer, or sangai) and the Loktak Lake wetlands.

Imphal (Manipur's capital, approximately 80 km from the park) has the nearest airport, with connections to Delhi, Kolkata, and other Indian cities. An Inner Line Permit is required for visitors from outside Manipur. Road conditions in the Senapati District hills are variable, and travel to the park requires a four-wheel-drive vehicle in the monsoon season. Accommodation is extremely limited near the park; Senapati town is the closest option with basic guesthouses. The Forest Department office in Senapati manages park access. The best time to visit is October to April. The park is most appropriately visited as part of an organised wildlife or birding tour with experienced local guides.

The primary conservation challenge at Sirohi is the small park area surrounded by a rapidly changing landscape. Encroachment from jhum cultivation into the park boundary, particularly on more accessible slopes, is an ongoing concern. Wildlife poaching for bushmeat and the illegal wildlife trade, including for slow lorises and primates, remains a significant threat throughout the Manipur hills. The park's long-term viability depends on maintaining forest connectivity with larger forested areas in Senapati and Tamenglong Districts. Community-based conservation efforts, including village conservation agreements with Forest Village committees, are the most effective management approach in this landscape. The Manipur Forest Department works with NGOs including the Nature Conservation Foundation on landscape-level wildlife monitoring.