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Wildlife Sanctuaries in Assam (APSC Assam Geography Notes)

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Wildlife Sanctuaries in Assam

 Assam Geography Notes for APSC Exam

Assam Geography - Assamexam

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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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Seven National Parks of Assam (APSC Assam Geography Notes)

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Seven National Parks of Assam : Assam Geography Study Materials & Notes

Assam Geography - Assamexam

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Assam is one of the lands comprising of the seven sisters. Blessed richly with diverse flora and fauna. Geographically made up of The Eastern Hills of The Northern Himalayas and The Brahmaputra Plains, Assam has copious forests. With the tropical monsoon rainfall type of climate Assam is one of the greenest states of the country. Because of its profuse forests Assam witnesses ample of rare species that seek shelter in the greens of the nature. Assam’s rich biodiversity has an enormous wildlife of flora and fauna, that draws a lot of wildlife lovers to this state.

Assam has seven national parks, viz. Kaziranga National Park, Manas National park, Orang National Park, Dibru-Saikhowa National Park, Nameri National Park, Dihing Patkai National Park and Raimona National Park. These protected area of Assam considered as one of the important wildlife areas for the protection of primate diversity and flora and fauna.

 

 

  1.  Kaziranga National Park

This famous national park of Assam is situated in the Golaghat and Nagaon districts of the state of Assam, India. It is located on the banks of the Brahamputra River. Covering an area of approximately 430 sq. kms is recognized as an Important Bird Area of the world.

The Kaziranga Park is one of the oldest National parks in Assam, being declared as National Park in 1974.  Kaziranga was originally established as a reserved forest in 1908. Later, it was converted in to a game sanctury till 1938. A forest conservationist, P. D. Stracey renamed this sanctury to Kaziranga Wildlife Sanctuary in 1950.

Kaziranga was declared as World Heritage Site by UNESCO for its quality natural environment. In 2006 it is also declared as Tiger Reserve.

Kaziranga National Park is home to world’s great one-horned rhinoceroses with total population of 2401. Intersected by four major rivers the forest land shows multiple areas with different characteristics and hence housing some of the rarest species of both flora and fauna. Apart from the rhinos the Asian Elephants also find their shelter in the grasslands of Kaziranga National Park. The other inhabitants of the park are wild boars, barasingha (swamp deer), monitor lizards, Indian bison, Swamp deer, Samber, Hog deer, Sloth Bear, Tiger, Leopard, Leopard cat,Jungle cat, hog badger, Capped langur, Hoolock gibbon, Jackal, Goose, Hornbills, lbis, Cormorants, Egret, Heron Fishing Eagle etc. Kaziranga is also known for its vibrant bird life. Birds including Fishing Eagle, Oriental Honey Buzzard, Himalayan Griffon and White-tailed Eagle are easily spotted in the area.

9 of the 14 primate species found in India occur in the Kaziranga National Park as well as the only ape found in India, the hoolock gibbon.

The landscape of Kaziranga is of sheer forest, tall elephant grass, rugged reeds, marshes & shallow pools. This park is very famous for its wild life inhabitation including many species of rhinoceroses, as well as many animals, including elephant, and numerous bird species. Kaziranga is one of the largest Protected Areas in India and one of the most significant conserved forest areas on the earth.

In addition to numerous species of resident birds it serves as the winter visiting ground to many migratory birds. So, the park has also been identified as an Important Bird Area (IBA).  Today, Kaziranga is one of the richest, most picturesque wildlife habitats of southern Asia.

  1.  Manas National Park

Manas National Park is a national park, UNESCO Natural World Heritage site, a Project Tiger reserve, an elephant reserve and a biosphere reserve. The park area falls in Assam’s five districts viz. Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa, Barpeta, Udalguri and Darrang, on the foothills of the Himalayas and it is contiguous with the Royal Manas National Park in Bhutan.

It is spread over an area of 391 square kilometers in Assam. Occupying a large area the park is home to an ample of flora and fauna. With the typical tropical monsoon rainfall type of climate the national park houses more than twenty five species that are endangered world-wide. Animals like Wild Water Buffaloes, Assam Roofed Turtle, Golden Langoor and Hispid Hare can also be seen along with the rare Pygmy Hog.

The Manas National Park was declared a sanctuary on 1 October 1928 with an area of 360 km2. Manas bioreserve was created in 1973. It was declared a national park in 1980. It was declared a World Heritage site in December 1985 by UNESCO. On 25 February 2008 the area was increased to 950 km2. On 21 June 2011, it was removed from the List of World Heritage in Danger and was commended for its efforts in preservation. in 1973 it got its designation as a Tiger Reserve and it’s the only tiger project of Assam.

The name of the park is derives from the Manas River, which is named after the serpent god Manasa. The Manas River is a major tributary of Brahmaputra River, which passes through the heart of the national park.

Manas known for its Project Tigers, Rhinos & Elephants, and is Assam’s one of the two Tiger projects. The sanctuary is home to a great variety of wildlife, including tiger, Golden Langur, Wild Buffalo, Hispid Hare, Pigmy Hog, Capped Langur, Indian one-horned Rhinoceros, Elephant, Gaur, Hog Deer, etc. The Manas Wildlife National Park is home to more than 450 species of birds also.

374 species of major flora are recorded from the park includes Melastoma malbathricum, Oroxylum indicum, Toona ciliata, Trewia nodiflora, Sterculia villosa, Bischofia javanica, Pouzolzia zeylanica, Syzygium formosum, Terminalia bellarica, Zingibar zecumber, Bauhinia sps., Bombax ceiba, Careya arborea, Chukrasia tabularis etc.

The main types of forests are Sub-Himalayan High Alluvial Semi-Evergreen Forests, East Himalayan Moist Mixed Deciduous Forests, Low Alluvial Savana Woodland ,Assam Valley Semi-Evergreen Alluvial Grasslands .

  1.  Dibru Saikhowa National Park

Dibru-Saikhowa National Park is one of the largest park of Assam, is situated in the south bank of the river Brahmaputra in the extreme east of Assam state in India. It is a National Park as well as a Biosphere Reserve having an area of 340 sq. kms in Tinsukia district. This national park is a home to some of the rare creatures.

Dibru Saikhowa National Park area lies in the Indo-Burma Global Biodiversity Hotspot ( one of the 19 biodiversity hotspots in the world). It’s fauna diversity comprises of semi wet evergreen forests, tropical moist deciduous forest, swamp forests, bamboo, cane brakes and grasslands.

The national park consists of a total of 36 species which include Hog Deer, Gangetic Dolphin, Royal Bengal Tiger, Jungle Cat, Asaiatic Water Buffalo, Capped Langur, Small Indian Civet, barking Deer, Slow Loris, Clouded Leopard, Asian Elephant, Chinese Pangolin, Malayan Giant Squirrel, etc. Semi-wild horse. It witnesses over 500 species of birds, both migratory and local. Species like white-winged duck, marsh babbler, white rumped vulture that are close to extinction seek refuge in this park. White winged Wood- Duck and Black-breasted Parrotbill Feral Horses are species of wild life which makes Dibru Saikhowa very famous. The National Park also conserve the White-Winged Wood Duck which are very rare.

This area was called as the Dibru Reserve Forest in the year 1890 and in the year 1920 some additional areas were also added to this Dibru Reserve Forest. The in the year 1929 the Dibru Reserve Forest was named as Saikhowa Reserve Forest. In the year 1995 this Saikhowa Reserve Forest was declared as a Wildlife Sanctuary. It was designated a Biosphere Reserve in July 1997. In the year 1999 this Wildlife Sanctuary was again declared as a National Park.

NOTE – White-Winged Wood Duck is the state bird of Assam state

 

  1.  Nameri National Park

Sharing its boundary with Arunachal Pradesh and therefore merging with the Pakhui Wildlife Sanctuary, Nameri National Park is built up on an area of approximately 200 sq km.

The Park situated in the District of Sonitpur of Assam,  is also an Elephant reserve. Animals like tiger, Himalayan Black Bear, Wild Boar and Indian Giant Squirrel are its common inhabitants. Birds like Ibis bill, Wreathed horn bill, black stork and Rufous necked hornbill find home here. The National Park also houses the orchids that make it rich in its flora as well.

The park is the second Tiger reserve of Assam. It was established as a sanctuary on 18th September 1985 and was officially declared as a National Park on 15th November, 1998. It is counted amongst the richest and most threatened reservoirs of plant and animal life in the world.

Nameri is a haven for many rare animals. The rich wildlife includes Tiger, Black bear, elephant, Leopard, Clouded Leopard, Indian Bison, Pangolin, Indian wild dog, deer, Civet Cat, Capped Langur, Jackals etc.Various species of birds such as the endangered white winged wood duck, four species of Hornbill, butterflies and reptiles are also found here.

Together the Nameri National Park in Assam and the Pakhui wildlife sanctuary in Arunachal pradhesh cover up a vast area of more or less 1000 square kilometres. This deciduous and moist jungle of bamboo brakes, canes and narrow grass strips along river banks is the ideal habitation for animals like elephants, tigers and a wide range of migratory birds.

  1.  Orang National Park

Orange National Park is situated in the Darrang and Sonitpur districts of Assam. Being comparatively small, the park is spread in about 78 sq km. Orang National Park has a strong hold of one-horned rhinos in the region.

The uniqueness of the park lies in the fact that it houses more than 50 species of fishes. This park is oldest game reserve of the State and an important breeding ground for varieties of Fishes. The animals found in this sanctuary are the One-horned Rhinoceros, Leopard, Elephant, Sambar, Barking Deer, Tiger, varieties of water birds, Green Pigeon, Florican, Teal , Goose, Otters, hog deer, Indian civet, Rhesus macaque, Bengal porcupine, Indian pangolin, Indian fox etc. Various species of birds such as the Pelican, Cormorant, Greylag Goose, Large Whistling Tea Great Adjutant Stork, King Vulture etc. have also found this sanctuary to be their ideal habitat.

It is also known as the mini Kaziranga National Park because of similar landscape, streams and grassland. The Park was established as a sanctuary in 1985 and declared a National Park on 13th of April 1999.

    6. Dihing Patkai National Park

234 sq. km stretch covering Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts of Upper Assam. considered the “last remaining stretches” of the Assam Valley tropical wet evergreen forests. It is a major elephant habitat and Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary was declared as Dehing Patkai Elephant Reserve under Project Elephant.

It has recorded 310 species of butterflies. 47 mammal species including tigers and clouded leopards. 47 reptile species and 310 species of butterflies have been recorded in Dihing Patkai. It also has highest concentration of Rare endangered white winged wood duck.

It was declared a wildlife sanctuary on 13 June 2004.  On 9 June 2021 Forest Department of Assam officially notified it as a National Park.

     7. Raimona National Park

Located in Kokrajhar district of the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) in lower Assam Raimona National Park spread across 422 sq km. Phipsoo wildlife sanctuary in Bhutan to its north, Buxa tiger reserve in West Bengal to its west and Manas national park in Assam to its east. It is home to elephants, tigers, golden langurs, clouded leopard, wild buffalo, spotted deer, over 150 species of butterflies, 170 species of birds including the white bellied heron and nearly 380 species of plants.

On 09th June, 2021; it became as National Park. It is a part of a contiguous forest patch with an area of 422 km2  covering the northern part of the notified Ripu Reserve Forest, which forms the westernmost buffer to Manas Tiger Reserve in the foothills of Eastern Himalaya Biodiversity Hotspot. It is also part of Chirang-Ripu Elephant Reserve.

Go To Assam Geography Notes & Study Materials                                                                                           Go To Geography Notes

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