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WILDLIFE
PARKS
Assam is a
state blessed with a vast wealth of natural wonders. It has many
national parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries.
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Dibru-Saikhowa National Park
The
Dibru-Saikhowa National Park lies in Dibrugarh and Tinsukia
District. It is 13-km from Tinsukia town, which is 483-km from
Guwahati. The park covers an area of about 340-sq-kms. Of the
seven parts of the park one part is a wetland and the rest of
the part is mainly covered with grasslands and dense forests.
The main attractions of Dibru-Saikhowa National Park are the
Semi-wild horses (Feral) and the white-winged Wood Duck. Other
animals are Leopard, Clouded Leopard, Elephant, Sambhar, Slow
Loris, Asiatic Buffalos, Capped Langur, Gangetic Dolphin, Indian
Wild Dog, etc. More than 250 varieties of local and migratory
birds are also found here.
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Kaziranga National Park
Kaziranga, the
greatest park of all, is renowned for its elephant grass and
Rhino. It has a forest area of 430-sq-kms on the southern
bank of the Brahmaputra.
Flora And Fauna
- Rivulets and Bhils, the semi-evergreen forested
"Highlands", blend into marshes and flood plains covered
with tall elephant grass are the highlights along with
Rhinos, Deer and herds of Wild Buffaloes. The rich bird life
includes Egrets, Herons, Storks, Fish-Eating Eagles and a
Grey Pelican colony settled among the red cotton trees. Wild
Elephants and Tigers are also found in this area. With a population of over a thousand, the one-horned Rhino's are the
largest concentration in the subcontinent.
Kaziranga is open from mid-November to early April only.
During the monsoons, the Brahmaputra bursts its banks,
flooding the low-lying grasslands and causing the animals to
migrate from one area to another within the park. Deer and
even Leopard often cross the main road, heading for the
hills until the water recedes.
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Manas National Park
The only
Tiger Project in Assam, Manas is one of India's most
magnificent National Parks. It is situated on the bank of
the river Manas at the foothills of the Himalayas. It is a
well known World heritage site with its unique combination
of scenic beauty and rare wealth of wildlife. Covering an
area of 519.77 Sq. Kms, it has a core area of 360 Kms and is
situated in Barpeta District. Manas is one of the nine tiger
reserve sanctuaries in India. Tigers however are not the
only wildlife to be found here. Manas has its own peculiar
faunal features, the rarest species of which are Hispid
Hare, Pigmy Hog, Golden Langur, Indian Rhinoceros, Asiatic
Buffalo etc. Other commonly seen animals are Elephant,
Leopard, Clouded Leopard, Himalayan Bear, Wild Boar, Samber,
Swamp Deer, Hog Deer etc. Hundreds of the winged species
migrate to the friendly climate of Manas during winter.
Among them are Riverchats (White Capped Redstars), Forktails,
Cormorants and various types of ducks including the Ruddy
Shelduck. The woodland birds are no less charming and
include the Indian Hornbill and the Great Pied Hornbill. |
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Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary
Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary is situated 25-km away from
the Nagaon town in the Nagaon district, and has covering
area of 70-sq-kms. Its main attraction includes the
Great Indian one-horned Rhinoceros but there are other
animals also such as Tiger, Leopard, Asiatic Buffalo,
Wild Bear, Civet Cat, Leopard Cat, Hog Deer etc. Various
species and birds are also found in this region. |
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Orang Sanctuary / Rajiv Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary
Popularly known as mini Kaziranga, Orang national
park covers 72-sq-kms only and is located towards
the north bank of Brahamaputra. This park is 150-km
from Guwahati and 31-km from Tezpur. From Tezpur by
bus on Tezpur-Guwahati route at 45-km west is Orang
Chariali and from their 18-km towards the south is
Orang wildlife sanctuary. On October 1st, 1992 Orang
Wildlife Sanctuary was renamed as Rajib (Rajiv)
Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary. The Orang Wildlife
Sanctuary area has rich forestry of Sal, Teak, Simul,
and Eucalyptus trees with wild beasts such as
One-horned Rhino, Elephants, Leopards, Sambhars,
Deers, etc. During winter, birds from far off places
migrate to this place. Milky white Pelicans from
America are also the migrants of this region. |
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