About Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary:
- Location: Situated in Ri-Bhoi district of Meghalaya, within the Eastern Himalayan Global Biodiversity Hotspot.
- Topography: Features undulating plains, low hills, and rugged terrain shaped by the Umtrew River and its tributaries (Umran, Umling, Umtasor).
- Main river: Umtrew River, forming the western boundary of the sanctuary.
- Fauna: Home to over 400 bird species, including the endangered Rufous-necked Hornbill, and mammals like the Clouded Leopard, Elephant, and Himalayan Black Bear.
- Flora: Dominant species include Shorea robusta, Tectona grandis, Terminalia myriocarpa, and Gmelina arborea.
- Legal and Conservation Status: Established in 1981 as a protected sanctuary under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
- Rated as the best-managed protected area in Northeast India in the 2021 Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) Report.
