Wildlife Sanctuaries in Assam
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Assam is blessed with rich biodiversity of enormous wildlife of flora and fauna, that draws a lot of wildlife lovers to this state. Geographically located in the Eastern Hills of The Northern Himalayas and The Brahmaputra Plains, Assam has copious forests. With the tropical monsoon rainfall type of climate, the Assam state is one of the greenest states of the country.
Assam has 18 (Eighteen) Wildlife Sanctuaries (WS) in total and two more are proposed to be declared as Wildlife Sanctuaries. These protected area of Assam considered as one of the important wildlife areas for the protection of primate diversity and flora and fauna. Besides, Assam also has five National Parks.
18 (Eighteen) Wildlife Sanctuaries (WS) in Assam
1. Garampani Wildlife Santuary
2. Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary
3. Bornadi Wildlife Sanctuary
4. Chakrasila Wildlife Sanctuary
5. Burachapori Wildlife Sanctuary
6. Panidehing Wildlife Sanctuary
7. Hollongapar Wildlife Sanctuary
8. Pabitora Wildlife Sanctuary
9. Sonai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary
10. Bherjan – Borajan – Padumoni Wildlife Sanctuary
11. East K. Anglong Wildlife Sanctuary
12. Nambor Wildlife Sanctuary
13. Marat Longri Wildlife Sanctuary
14. Nambor – Doigrung Wildlife Sanctuary
15. Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary
16. Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary
17. Borail Wildlife Sanctuary
18. Deepar Beel Wildlife Sanctuary
Garampani Wildlife Sanctuary
It has an area of 6 square kilometre, located in Karbi Anglong district of Assam. One of the oldest Sanctuary containing Hot water spring and Waterfalls and surrounded by Nambor Sanctuary having 51 rare species of Orchid.
Mammals: Tiger, Elephant, Gaur, Bear, Sambar, Barking deer, Rhesus macaque, Hoolock gibbon, Wild pig etc.
Birds: The Great pied Hornbill, Hill myna etc.
Reptiles: Python, Cobra, Monitor lizards.
Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary
The Sanctuary is located on the southern bank of river Brahmaputra with an area of 70 sq. kms. in the district of Nagaon and is a part of Laokhowa -Burachapori eco-system. It provides ideal habitat for Rhinoceros and Wild Buffalo. It is situated 40 km downstream of the Kaziranga National Park and 30 km northwest of the Orang National Park on the other side of the river Brahmaputra.
Mammals: Elephant, Wild buffalo, Royal Bengal tiger, Indian Leopard, Hog deer, Barking deer, Leopard cat, Fishing cat, Civets, Lesser cat, Wild pig etc.
Bornadi Wildlife Sanctuary
A Sanctuary of only 26.22 sq. kms. area, situated on the foothills of Himalayas in in Udalguri district & Baksa District of Assam, bordering Bhutan in the north, is an ideal bhabar tract. The Sanctuary was established in 1980 especially for the protection and conservation of Hispid Hare (Caprolagus hispidus) and Pigmy Hog (Porcula salvania).
There are mammals such as the Golden Langur, clouded leopard, hoolock gibbon, Elephant, Gaur, Tiger, Leopard, Small Indian Civet, Jungle Cat, Chinese Pangolin, Porcupine, Himalayan Black Bear, Barking Deer, Pigmy Hog, Wild Pig, Hispid Hare etc.
Birds: Peafowl, Hornbill, Swamp partridge, Bengal florican, white-winged wood duck, kingfisher, woodpecker etc.
Chakrasila Wildlife Sanctuary
With an area of 45.50 sq. kms., Chakrasila Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Dhubri district in the western Assam and is the second home of Golden Langur off the foothills of Himalaya.
Chakrashila Hill was first declared as reserve forest in 1966 and on 14 July 1994, it was recognized with the status of Wildlife sanctuary by the Government of Assam.
Mammals & Birds: Golden Langur, Rhesus Macaque, Leopard etc. There are also 273 species of Birds, 11 species of Reptiles, 14 species of Amphibians and 60 species of Fishes have been recorded so far.
Burachapori Wildlife Sanctuary
Located on the southern bank of river Brahmaputra in the Sonitpur district with an area of 44 sq. kms. The Sanctuary is a part of Laokhowa – Burachapori eco-system and comprises of a mosaic of wet alluvial grassland, riparian and semi-evergreen forests dotted by wetland and river system.
It is considered to be an ideal habitat for the Bengal florican. It is a paradise for many migratory birds.
Mammals: Tiger, Leopard, Wild Buffalo, Hog Deer, Wild Pigs etc. and occasional visit of herd of Elephants.
Birds: Bengal Florican, Swamp partridge(fancolin), Wood Cock, Water Hen, Parakeets etc.
Panidehing Wildlife Sanctuary
A rich wetland eco-system of 34 sq. kms. on the southern bank of river Brahmaputra in the Sibsagar district. This area was established as a Bird Sanctuary in August 1996 by the Government of Assam.
It is a paradise of migratory and resident birds, so far 165 species of Birds have been identified and recorded. It has high concentration of Geese and other Migratory birds. The common birds are Bar-headed Goose, Grey leg Goose, Spot billed Duck, Mallard, Gadwall, Wigeon, Gargany, Shoveller, Red crested Pochard, Common Pochard, Ferruginous Duck, Adjutant Stork, Lesser Adjutant Stork, Open bill Stork, White necked Stork etc.
Hollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary
It is a small Sanctuary of 20.98 sq. kms. in Jorhat district with semi-evergreen forests. The Sanctuary is named after the only Ape (Hoolock Gibbon) found in India.
The Sanctuary derives from a patch of forest once part of the Hollongapar Reserve Forest in the civil district of Jorhat in Assam, India. Set aside as a “Reserve Forest” (RF) on 27 August 1881, its forests used to extend to the foothills of the Patkai mountain range. The sanctuary was officially constituted and renamed in 1997.
This Sanctuary contains India’s only gibbons – the hoolock gibbons, and Northeastern India’s only nocturnal primate – the Bengal slow loris.
Mammals: Elephant, Leopard, Tiger, Pangolin, Assamese macaque, Pig tailed macaque, Rhesus macaque, Stump tailed macaque, Capped langur, Slow loris, Jungle cat, Indian civet, Giant squirrel, Barking deer, Sambar, Wild pig, Squirrels.
Birds: Indian Pied Horn Bill, Osprey, Hill Myna, Kalij pheasant etc.
Reptiles: Indian Python, Common Monitor Lizard, Indian Tent Turtle, Indian Cobra.
Pabitora Wildlife Sanctuary
Pobitora wildlife sanctuary is located on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra in Morigaon district. It was declared in 1987 and covers 38.85 km2, providing grassland and wetland habitat for the Indian rhinoceros.
The Sanctuary has the world’s highest density of One horned Rhinoceros. It is an Important Bird Area and home for more than 2000 migratory birds and various reptiles.
Mammals: It hosts Assam’s second largest population (102 rhinos in 2018). Other mammals occurring in the sanctuary are golden jackal, wild boar, feral water buffalo, Barking deer, Indian leopard, Leopard cat, Fishing cat, Wild pigs, Chinese pangolins, and rhesus macaque.
Birds: Altogether 375 species of both migratory and resident birds of 46 families have been recorded so far, with 14 listed in the Indian Red Data Book.
Reptiles: 27 species of reptiles have been recorded in the Sanctuary.
Under the Indian Rhino Vision 2020 (IRV 2020) , six rhinos were translocated from Pobitora and re-introduced into the Manas National Park between December 2010 and January 2011. Earlier, two rhinos were similarly translocated from Pobitora to Manas National Park in 2008.
Sonai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary
The Sanctuary is located in the foothills of Himalaya in the Sonitpur district with an area of 220 sq. kms. and offers views of both scenic beauty and wildlife. This area was declared as a sanctuary in 1998.
Mammals: Tiger, Lesser Cats, Elephant, Gaur, Wild Boar, Hog Deer, Barking Deer.
White Winged Wood Duck, Hornbill, Pelican etc. and Python, Russell’s Viper etc. are found here.
Bherjan – Borajan – Padumoni Wildlife Sanctuary
Bherjan-Borajan-Padumoni Wildlife Sanctuary of 7.22 km2 area is located in Tinsukia district. The Sanctuary with 3 separate forest blocks viz. namely Bherjan, Borajan and Padumoni. This area is an ideal habitat for the Primate species.
Mammals: Some of the mammals found in the Sanctuary are Slow Loris, Assamese Macaque, Pig tailed Macaque, Rhesus Macaque, Capped Langur, Stump tailed Macaque and Hoolock Gibbon, besides few Leopards, Wild Pigs and Giant Flying Squirrel etc.
84 species of birds have been found including Osprey, Kingfisher, Indian Pied Hornbill, Lineated Barbet, Woodpecker, Drongo, Common Mynah, Bulbul, Magpie Robin, Wagtail and varieties of woodland birds.
East Karbi Anglong Wildlife Sanctuary
East Karbi Anglong Wildlife Sanctuary, with an area of 221.81 sq. kms. is an important component of the Karbi Anglong–Kaziranga landscape, rich in both floral & faunal diversity and is located in the Karbi Anglong Autonomous District Council. The forest area was declared a wildlife sanctuary on 27 July 2000 by the Assam Government.
Mammals: Tiger, Elephant, Gaur, Sambar, Bears, Barking deer, Rhesus macaque, Hoolock gibbon, Wild pigs, Lesser cats etc.
High diversity of woodland birds and various reptiles like Python, Cobra, Monitor lizards, Hill tortoise etc. are found in abundance.
Nambor Wildlife Sanctuary
Nambor Wildlife Sanctuary, spreading 37 sq. kms. contiguous to Garampani WLS is located in Karbi Anglong Autonomous District Council. It harbours 51 rare species of Orchid.
Mammals: Tiger, Elephant, Gaur, Bears, Sambar, Barking deer, Rhesus macaque, Hoolock gibbon, Wild pig etc.
High diversity of woodland birds and various reptiles like Python, Cobra, Monitor lizards etc. are found in abundance.
Marat Longri Wildlife Sanctuary
Marat Longri Wildlife Sanctuary, spreading 451.00 sq. kms. is located in Karbi Anglong Autonomous District Council. It is an important component of Dhansiri-Lungding Elephant Reserve.
Mammals: Elephant, Tiger, Leopard, Lesser Cat, Barking Deer, Wild Pig, Porcupine, Slow Loris, Pangolin etc.
High diversity of hilly and woodland birds. and reptiles like Banded Krait, Rock Python, Monitor Lizard, Brown Hill Tortoise etc.
Nambor – Doigrung Wildlife Sanctuary
Nambor – Doigrung Wildlife Sanctuary, declared as a Wildlife sanctuary in 2003, spreads in 97 sq. kms, is located in Golaghat district and is famous for Hot water springs and Gaur and Hoolock Gibbon.
The sanctuary along with Garampani Wildlife Sanctuary and Nambor Wildlife Sanctuary are a part of the Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong Elephant Reserve, which was declared on 17 April 2003.
Mammals: Elephant, Hoolock Gibbon, Stumped Tailed Macaque, Pig Tailed Macaque, Slow Loris, Assamese Macaque, Rhesus Macaque, Tiger, Leopard, Fishing Cat, Barking Deer, Sambar, Wild Pigs, Gaur etc.
Birds: White Winged Wood Duck, Great Pied Hornbill, Wreathed Hornbill, Adjutant Stork etc.
Amphibians & Reptiles: Tortoise, Monitor Lizard, Python etc.
Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary
The Sanctuary spreading in an area of 78.64 sq. kms. is located in the eastern fringe of Guwahati. 3 individual reserved forests viz. the Amchang reserve forest, South Amchang forest reserve and Khanapara reserve forest were combined in 2004 to form the sanctuary. This is known for hosting rare and endangered birds and animals, including the Chinese pangolin and Assamese Macaque.
Mammals: Chinese pangolin, Flying fox, Slow loris, Assamese macaque, Rhesus macaque, Capped langur, Hoolock gibbon, Jungle cat, Leopard cat, Leopard, Elephant, Wild pig, Sambar, Barking deer, Gaur, Porcupine etc.
Birds: Lesser Adjutant, Greater Adjutant, White-backed Vulture, Slender-billed Vulture, Khaleej Pheasant Green Imperial Pigeon, Lesser Pied Hornbill etc.
Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary
The Sanctuary with an area of 111 Sq. Kms. is located in Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts, bordering Arunachal Pradesh. The Sanctuary is a part of the Dehing-Patkai Elephant Reserve.
Mammals: Chinese pangolin, Flying fox, Slow loris, Stump-tailed macaque, Assamese macaque, Rhesus macaque, Capped langur, Hoolock gibbon, Himalayan black bear, Hog – badger, Jungle cat, Leopard cat, Fishing cat, Marbled cat, Clouded leopard, Leopard, Tiger, Wild pig, Sambar, Barking deer, Gaur, Serow, Malayan giant squirrels, Porcupine, Pig-tailed macaque etc.
Birds: Lesser Adjutant Stork, White Winged Wood duck, White-backed Vulture, Slender-billed Vulture, White cheeked Hill Partridge, Khaleej Pheasant, Grey Peacock-Pheasant, Rufus necked Hornbill, Wreathed Hornbill, Great Pied Hornbill, Beautiful Nuthatch, Black-browed Leaf Wabler etc.
Reptiles: Rock python, King cobra, Asian leaf turtle, Monitor Lizard etc.
Borail Wildlife Sanctuary
Borail Sanctuary covers an area of 326.24 sq. kms. in Cacharand Dima Hasao districts. It comprises of Tropical Moist Evergreen and Semi-Evergreen Forests of the North Cachar Reserve Forest and Borail Reserve Forest.
The Sanctuary area is home to a wide diversity of wildlife including Mammals like Chinese pangolin, Flying fox, Slow loris, Stump-tailed macaque, Assamese macaque, Rhesus macaque, Capped langur, Hoolock gibbon, Himalayan black bear, Yellow-throated marten, Hog –badger, Jungle cat, Leopard cat, Fishing cat, Marbled cat, Clouded leopard, Leopard, Wild pig, Sambar, Barking deer etc.
Birds like White-backed Vulture, Slender-billed Vulture, White cheeked Hill Partridge, Mountain Bamboo partridge, Khaleej Pheasant, Grey Peacock-Pheasant, Rufus necked Hornbill, Wreathed Hornbill, Great Pied Hornbill etc.
Reptiles including Rock python, King cobra, Brown hill tortoise, Asian leaf turtle, Monitor Lizard etc. are found here.
Deepar Beel Wildlife (Bird) Sanctuary
This wetland of 4.14 sq. kms area, located in the western boundary of Guwahati city, Deepar Beel Sanctuary is the only Ramsar Site in Assam.
Deepar Beel is a permanent freshwater lake, in a former channel of the Brahmaputra River. Ramsar Convention has listed the lake in November 2002, as a Ramsar Site for undertaking conservation measures on the basis of its biological and environmental importance.
Over 170 species of birds including kingfishers, fishing eagless and abundant varieties of ducks, have been listed in the Deepor Beel Bird Sanctuary. The major Avian species are Greater Adjutant Stork, Whistling Teal, Open Billed Stork, Shoveler, Pintail, Garganey and high concentration of Pheasant tail jacanas etc.
Guwahati Water bodies (Preservation and Conservation) Bill, 2008 has been passed with the objective of preserving the wetland, minimising the problem of waterlogging in the city and creating an eco-friendly atmosphere. The Government of Assam is planning to re-acquire land in the periphery of Deepor Beel, to undertake development projects, including water sports at the beel.
Additionally Two more Wildlife Sanctuary are proposed to be setup in Assam state.
Bordoibam Bilmukh Wildlife (Bird) Sanctuary (Proposed)
The proposed Bordoibam Bilmukh Bird Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Dhemaji and Lakhimpur districts, the Bird Sanctuary covers an area of 11.25 sq. kms. and is a breeding ground of large Whistling Teal.
Birds : 24 species of Birds – Kingfishers, Large whistling Teal, Lesser Adjutant Stork, Spotted Dove, Pheasant tailed Jacana, Bronze winged Jacana, Indian River Tern, Black Headed Gull, White Wagtail, Black Headed Oriole, Purple Moorhen, Open bill Stork etc.
North Karbi Anglong Wildlife Sanctuary (Proposed)
The Sanctuary located in Karbi Anglong Autonomous District Council, is extremely important for the survival of Kaziranga N.P., as it is strategically located to the south of Kaziranga National Park and provides shelter to most of the animals of the park while migrating during annual floods.
Mammals: Tiger, Lesser cats, Elephant, Gaur, Sambar, Bears, Barking deer, Rhesus macaque, Hoolock gibbon, Capped langur, Slow loris etc.
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