Rakhine Yoma Elephant Range

{{Infobox Protected area

| name = Rakhine Yoma Elephant Range

| iucn_category = IV

| map = Myanmar

| relief = 1

| map_alt =

| map_caption = Location in Myanmar

| location = Thandwe and Gwa Townships, Rakhine State, {{flag|Myanmar}}

| photo =

| photo_caption =

| nearest_city = Gwa

| coordinates = {{coord|18|00|0|N|94|45|0|E|format=dms|display=inline,title}}

| area = {{convert|1755.7|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}{{cite web |author=World Database on Protected Areas |year=2019 |title=Rakhine Yoma Elephant Range |website=Protected Planet |url=https://www.protectedplanet.net/rakhine-yoma-elephant-range-wildlife-sanctuary}}

| established = 2002

| visitation_num =

| visitation_year =

| governing_body = Myanmar Forest Department

}}

Rakhine Yoma Elephant Range is a protected area in Myanmar's Rakhine Yoma mountains, covering about {{convert|1756|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} of evergreen and mixed deciduous forest at an elevation of {{convert|20-1270|m|abbr=on}}.{{cite book |editor1=Beffasti, L. |editor2=Gallanti, V. |title=Myanmar Protected Areas: Context, Current Status and Challenges |year=2011 |publisher=Istituto Oikos, Biodiversity and Nature Conservation Association |location=Milano, Yangon |chapter=Rakhine Yoma Elephant Range |pages=84–85 |chapter-url=https://www.istituto-oikos.org/files/download/2018/MyanmarProtectedAreas_Context_CurrentStatusandChallenges.pdf}}

Rakhine Yoma Elephant Range was established for the protection of the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus). It harbours extensive tracts of bamboo (Melocanna baccifera), which provide shelter for the endangered Arakan forest turtle (Heosemys depressa).{{cite journal |author1=Platt, S. G. |author2=Myo, K. M. |author3=Ko, W. K. |author4=Maung, A. |author5=Rainwater, T. R. |year=2010 |title=Field observations and conservation of Heosemys depressa in the Rakhine Yoma Elephant Range of western Myanmar |journal=Chelonian Conservation and Biology |volume=9 |issue=1 |pages=114–119 |doi=10.2744/CCB-0813.1 |s2cid=86775422 |url=http://www.academia.edu/download/53931087/ccb-0813.120170720-2869-1c0d68.pdf}}{{dead link|date=July 2022|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

Wildlife recorded during a camera trap survey in 2000 included large Indian civet (Viverra zibetha), clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), Asiatic golden cat (Catopuma temminckii) and leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis).{{cite journal |author1=Than Zaw |author2=Saw Htun |author3=Saw Htoo Tha Po |author4=Myint Maung |author5=Lynam, A. J. |author6=Kyaw Thinn Latt |author7=Duckworth, J. W. |year=2008 |title=Status and distribution of small carnivores in Myanmar |journal=Small Carnivore Conservation |volume=38 |pages=2–28 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/233862241}}{{cite journal |author1=Than Zaw |author2=Than Myint |author3=Saw Htun |author4=Saw Htoo Tha Po |author5=Kyaw Thinn Latt |author6=Myint Maung |author7=Lynam A. J. |year=2014 |title=Status and distribution of smaller felids in Myanmar |journal=Cat News |issue=Special Issue 8 |pages=24–30 |url=http://catsg.org/fileadmin/filesharing/5.Cat_News/5.3._Special_Issues/5.3.8._SI_8/CatNews_SI8_Than_Zaw_et_al.pdf}}

In 2001, Bufo crocus was discovered by a stream in the sanctuary at an elevation of {{convert|83|m|abbr=on}}.{{cite journal |author1=Wogan, G. O. |author2=Win, H. |author3=Thin, T. |author4=Lwin, K. S. |author5=Shein, A. K. |author6=Kyi, S. W. |author7=Tun, H. |year=2003 |title=A new species of Bufo (Anura: Bufonidae) from Myanmar (Burma), and redescription of the little known species Bufo stuarti Smith 1929 |journal=Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences |volume=54 |issue=7 |pages=141−153 |url=http://www.academia.edu/download/39321021/Wogan2003NewSpecieBufo.pdf}}{{dead link|date=July 2022|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

In 2001, the bent-toed geckos Cyrtodactylus ayeyarwadyensis and Cyrtodactylus wakeorum were discovered in the sanctuary and described as a new species in 2003.{{cite journal |author=Bauer, A. M. |year=2003 |title=Descriptions of seven new Cyrtodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) with a key to the species of Myanmar (Burma) |journal=Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences |volume=54 |issue=25 |pages=463–498 |s2cid=129933095 |url=https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/3273/5064c416af0977bc70c00bf2078e2427e74a.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191220061410/https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/3273/5064c416af0977bc70c00bf2078e2427e74a.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=2019-12-20 }}

The presence of western hoolock gibbon (Hoolock hoolock) was confirmed during surveys in 2008.{{cite journal |author1=Geissmann, T. |author2=Grindley, M. |author3=Momberg, F. |author4=Lwin, N. |author5=Moses, S. |year=2009 |title=Hoolock gibbon and biodiversity survey and training in southern Rakhine Yoma, Myanmar |journal=Gibbon Journal |volume=5 |pages=7–27 |url=http://www.gibbons.de/main/papers/pdf_files/2009rakhine-yoma.pdf}}

Wildlife present also includes gaur (Bos gaurus), sun bear (Helarctos malayanus), white-rumped vulture (Gyps bengalensis), pale-capped pigeon (Columba punicea), white-winged duck (Asarcornis scutulata) and beautiful nuthatch (Sitta formosa).{{cite conference |author=Aung Kyaw |date=2014 |title=Case study on Rakhine Yoma |conference=Mekong Protected Areas and Climate Change Implications for Livelihoods and Development |url=http://www.gms-eoc.org/uploads/resources/546/attachment/2.1.2.%20Case%20Study-Rakhine%20Yoma%20Elephant%20Range.pdf}}