National Park in Assam

National Park in Assam

Assam is one of the richest Biodiversity areas in the world.

• There are at present 7 National Parks in Assam and 17 wildlife sanctuaries.
• Assam has the third most National Parks after 12 in Madhya Pradesh.
• Kaziranga National Park and Manas National Park are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The seven National Park in Assam are Kaziranga , Manas , Dibru-Saikhowa, Mameri ,Orang ,Raimona and Dehing Patkai.

Kaziranga National Park:

• Area: Its area is 430 sq.km .
• Location: Kaziranga National Park is a national park in the Golaghat and Nagaon districts of the state of Assam.

History:

• It was set up as a national park in 1974. Kaziranga National park was given official status by the central government on 11 February 1974.
• In 1985 , Kaziranga was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Main Attraction: The most important attraction of the Park is its one horned Asian rhinoceros . Besides , it has wild buffalo , elephant , wild boar , gaur , Royal Bengal tiger , leopard , swamp deer . The park is also famous for pelican , horn bill , white winged wood duck (deo hah) , florican and several other species of swamp birds .

2.Dibru – Saikhowa National Park :

• Area: It has a large area of 340 km² .

• Location: It is located in Dibrugarh and Tinsukia district . It is 13 km from Tinsukia town and Brahmaputra Rivers .

History :

• The area was declared as Dibru Reserved Forest in 1890.
• It was designated a Biosphere Reserve in July 1997.
• On 9th March , 1999 the Central government recognised it as a National park .

Main attraction : White winged wood duck ( deo hanh ) , asiatic wild buffalo , feral horses , tiger , monkey , deer , wild pig , salix swamp , land and aquatic bird and snake etc.

3.Manas National Park: 

• Area: Its area is 950 sq. km. In 1907, it was declared a Reserve Forest.
• Location: This sanctuary is located in the north – western corner of Chirang District , below the Bhutan foothills on the eastern bank of the Manas river.

History:

• In 1950, it was declared as a Wildlife Sanctuary. Manas bio reserve was created in 1973.
• It was declared a World Heritage site in December 1985 by UNESCO.
• Project Tiger was started here in 1973.

Main Attraction: Royal Bengal tiger , golden langur , hispid hare , pigmy hog , swamp deer , hog deer , porcupine and Indian bison . It has also a small rhinoceros population .

4.Orang National park or Rajiv Gandhi National park :

• Area 78.81 sq km .

• Location : It is located on the north bank of the Brahmaputra River in the Darrang and Sonitpur District of Assam.

History: 

• Orang National park was established as a wildlife sanctuary in 1985.
• On 13th April , 1999 the government recognised it as national park .

Main attraction : One horned Indian rhinoceros , elephant , leopard , sambar , baking deer , tiger and varieties of water birds , green pigeon , florican , teal , gees , etc.

5. Nameri National Park :

• Area:  212 sq km .
• Location: Located in Sonitpur district and it is about 35 km from Tezpur Town

History :

• On 15th November , 1998 it was officially established as a National park .
• Nameri is also declared as Tiger Reserve in the year 1999-2000 .
• It is the second tiger reserve of Assam after Manas Tiger Reserve.
• The river Jia- Bharali is the lifeline of Nameri , which flows along the Southern boundary of the park from North – West to South – East .
• Nameri shares its northern boundary with the Pakhui Wildlife Sanctuary of Arunachal Pradesh .

Main attraction : White winged wood duck ( deo hanh ) , tiger ,  hornbill  , black bear , many types of deers , butterflies , elephant , fish , etc.

This forest has over 600 species . Some notable species are Gmelina arborea , Michelia champaca , Amora wallichi , Chukrasia tabularis , Ajar , Urium poma , Bhelou , Agaru , Rudraksha , Bonjolokia , Hatipolia akhakan , hollock , Nahor . 

6. Raimona National park :

• Area:  422 sq km .
• Location : The Raimona National Park located at Kokrajhar district of BTR.

History:

• It was declared to be National Park on 5 June 2021 by the announcement of Assam’s Chief Minister on the occasion of World Environment Day .
• It became as National Park on 9th June , 2021. It is the 6th national park in Assam.

Main attraction : Golden Langur , Asian elephant , Royal Bengal tiger , Clouded leopard , Indian gaur , Wild water buffalo , Spotted deer , Hornbill , butterflies , birds , varieties of plants and orchids .

7.Dehing Patkai National Park :

• Area: 231.66 sq. km
• Location: It is located in the Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts of Assam   

History:

• It was declared a wildlife sanctuary on 13 June 2004 .
• On 13 December 2020 Government of Assam upgraded it into a national park .
• On 9 June 2021 Forest Department of Assam officially notified it as a national park .
• It is also called ‘Amazon of East’.

Main Attraction: Main attraction : Hoolock gibbon , slow loris , Assamese macaque , stump – tailed macaque , capped langur , Asian elephant , Bengal tiger , Indian leopard , gaur , Chinese pangolin , Himalayan black bear etc. 

National Park in Assam

Assam Geographic MCQ Part-1