North Luangwa National Park

{{Infobox protected area

| name = North Luangwa National Park

| iucn_category = II

| photo =

| photo_caption =

| location = Mpika District, Muchinga Province, Zambia

| nearest_city =

| coords = {{coord|12|S|32|E|format=dms|display=inline,title}}

| map = Zambia | relief = 1

| area_km2 = 4,636

| established = 1972

| visitation_num =

| visitation_year =

| governing_body = Zambia Wildlife Authority

}}

North Luangwa National Park is a national park in Zambia,[http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/04/05/100405fa_fact_goldberg?currentPage=all "Did American conservationists in Africa go too far?"] in The New Yorker, 5 April 2010 the northernmost of the three in the valley of the Luangwa River. Founded as a game reserve in 1938, it became a national park in 1972 and now covers 4,636 km².

Like the South Luangwa National Park, its eastern boundary is the Luangwa River, while it rises to cover a stretch of the Muchinga Escarpment to the west. The Mwaleshi River flows east–west through the Centre of the park, the area to its south being a strict wilderness zone. It has generally suffered from a lack of investment and interest compared to the much more popular South Luangwa National Park.

Biodiversity

The range of birds and mammals include Cookson's wildebeest, Crawshay's zebra and many antelopes and bird species.{{Cite web |date=2021 |title=North Luangwa National Park |url=https://fzs.org/en/projects/zambia/north-luangwa-national-park/ |access-date=2023-10-05 |website=Frankfurt Zoological Society |language=en}} In 2003, black rhinoceros were re-introduced to the park.{{Cite book |last=Groenendijk |first=J. |author2=Van der Westhuizen, E. |author3=Morkel, P. |author4=Lewis, C. |author5=Sayer, E. |author6=Van der Westhuizen, H. F. |author7=Dunham, K. M. |date=2010 |chapter=The re-introduction of the black rhinoceros to North Luangwa National Park, Zambia |title=Global Re-introduction Perspectives |pages=249–253 |publisher=IUCN/SSC Re-introduction Specialist Group |editor=Soorae, P. S. |chapter-url=https://www.academia.edu/52541353/The_re_introduction_of_the_black_rhinoceros_to_North_Luangwa_National_Park_Zambia}} Since 2005, the park, together with South Luangwa National Park, has been considered a Lion Conservation Unit.IUCN Cat Specialist Group (2006). Conservation Strategy for the Lion Panthera leo in Eastern and Southern Africa. IUCN, Pretoria, South Africa.

A survey of the park's fungi was carried out in the rainy season of 1994-1995, focusing on riverine habitats and miombo woodlands. The resulting checklist recorded 126 species from 33 families. Almost all are larger basidiomycetes, brackets, mushrooms, puffballs and toadstools, with particular emphasis on ectomycorrhizal associates of miombo trees. The total number of fungal species in the park is likely to be much higher.{{Cite journal |last=Shah-Smith |first=D.A. |date=1998 |title=A preliminary checklist of macrofungi from the North Luangwa National Park, Zambia |journal=Kirkia |jstor=23502404 |volume=17 |issue=1 |pages=85–107}}

References

Category:National parks of Zambia

Category:Protected areas established in 1938

Category:Geography of Muchinga Province

Category:Tourist attractions in Muchinga Province

Category:Important Bird Areas of Zambia

Category:Central Zambezian miombo woodlands