Major wildlife sanctuaries and reserves of Assam

Bura-Chapuri Wildlife Sanctuary - Sonitpur District - Assam

Bura-Chapori is a magnificent wildlife sanctuary situated on the north bank of the river Brahmaputra in Sonitpur district. Coverage area of the park is about 44-sq-kms. Bura-Chopai is considered to be the ideal habitat for Bengal Florican. Various species of migratory birds are also seen in this sanctuary. Other attractions are the Great Indian One-horned Rhinoceros, Asiatic Buffalo, Wild Boar, Otter, Civet Cat, Leopard Cat and Barking Deer etc. There are various species of reptiles also found over here.

Dibru - Saikhowa Wildlife Sanctuary: Assam

Dibru-Saikhowa National Park is a biosphere reserve located on the alluvial flood plains of Brahmaputra in Upper Assam abutting on Arunachal- the land of the rising sun in the Eastern Himalayas. It is at the junction of the revered Lohit and the great Brahmaputra originating from the sacred Mansarovar in Western Tibet in the shadow of Mount Kailash.

Dibru-saikhowa National Park is unique park fashioned by nature by earth quakes and ever changing water courses over time into numerous island pockets and water bodies providing a very unusual habitat for varied wildlife, aqua fauna and avifauna. The Park stretches over 350 square km on the Southern bank of the Brahmaputra. Its vegetation comprises of mainly semi-wet evergreen forest, tropical moist deciduous forest, bamboo and cane. A great variety of orchids blossom in the park. The Parks is an ideal habitat for many animals and birds. It is home to feral horses and the rare Ganges River Dolphin besides the Royal Bengal Tiger, Leopard, Leopard Cat, Clouded Leopard, east india n Elephant, Hoolock Gibbon, Asiatic Wild Buffalo and a variety of deer besides other wildlife. There are number of local and migratory birds in its numerous water bodies. This includes the White Winged Wood Duck, Bengal Florican, Great East Indian Hornbill; East Indian pied Hornbill, Spot Billed Pelican, Greater Adjutant Stork, Lesser Adjutant Strok, Pallas's Fishing Eagle, Greater Spotted Eagle, Swamp Fran Colin and Blyth's Kingfisher.

Kaziranga National Park: East of Guwahati - Assam

Kaziranga National Park lies on the south bank of the Brahmaputra and its boundary for the most part follows the Mora Diphlu River and runs parallel to National Highway No. 37. It covers an area of 688 sq. kilometers. The Park was first established in 1908, as a reserve forest with only about a dozen rhinos and was declared a National Park in 1974

Flora and Fauna: Kaziranga is famous for the great One-Horned Rhinos. Tigers, which are natural enemies of rhinos, are also there in sizable numbers in this area. Other attractions of this national park include the wild buffalo, magnificent swamp deer, hog deer, wild boar, Hoolock gibbon, capped langur and ratel (badger). A wide variety of snakes including the rock python and the monitor lizards also found here. Amongst the birds, the crested serpent eagle is common while palla's fishing eagle and gray-headed fishing eagle are frequently seen. Others include the Bengal floricab, bar-headed goose, whistling teal and pelican.

Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary - Nagaon District - Assam

Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary, located in Nagaon district of Assam was regarded as one of the rich and diverse wildlife area of Assam till 1980s. The Sanctuary covers an area of 70 sq km and harboured wildlife like the endangered Great Indian One Horned Rhino, Royal Bengal Tiger, Elephant, Asiatic water Buffalo, over 200 species of birds, including the Bengal Florican. Till 1983, the rhino population was around 70.

Manas National Park: Guwahati - Assam

Manas is situated in Assam spread over an area of 391 sq km, earlier it was known as North Kamrup, declared as a sanctuary on December 01, 1928. It was accorded the status of World Heritage Site in 1985.

Fauna: Manas houses 19 of India's most endangered animal populations. It has the largest population of tigers among Indian reserves. It is a home to the rare golden langur. The prominent fauna here are the rhino, wild buffalos, elephants, gaur, swamp deer, capped langur and clouded leopard. . The main highlight of the park is the giant hornbill, two subspecies of which, the pied and grey varieties are to be found here.It extends into the foothills of Bhutan where it is called the Royal Manas National Park.

Its wetlands are of international importance and essential for the survival of the fast-vanishing hispid hare and pygmy hog. Golden Langur, rhino, wild buffalos, elephants, gaur, swamp deer, capped langur and clouded leopard, giant hornbill. Butterflies and reptiles are also found aplenty in Manas.

Nameri National Park - Sonitpur District - Assam

Situated at the foothills of eastern Himalayas, Nameri National Park covers an area of about 200-sq-kms. The hilly backdrop, deciduous and the river Jia Bhoroli have added a unique charm to it. It is about 35-km from Tezpur town, which is 181-km from Guwahati. The rich wildlife that this park includes are Tiger, elephant, Leopard, Clouded Leopard, Indian Bison, Pangolin, Indian wild dog, Civet Cat, Capped Langur, Jackal etc. Various birds including the four species of Hornbill and reptiles are also found here.

Orang National Park - Tezpur - Assam

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. On October 1st, 1992 Orang Wildlife Sanctuary was renamed as Rajib (Rajiv) Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary. Of the most coveted attractions here are the one-horned rhinoceros, elephants, leopard, sambar, barking deer, tiger, varieties of water birds, green pigeon, florican, teal, geese and lots more. During winter birds from far off places come here to nestle. Milky white Pelicans from America also migrate over here.

Pabha or Milroy Sanctuary - Lakhimpur District - Assam

Located in Lakhimpur District, the Pabha Sanctuary spreads in an area of 49-sq-km. This Sanctuary was created to protect the wild water buffalo.

Pabitora Wildlife Sanctuary: Morigaon District - Assam

Situated in the Morigaon district, Pabitora is one of the major wildlife sanctuaries of Assam. It is situated about 50-km from Guwahati city. Covering an area of 15.9-sq-km, Pabitora is mainly famous for its Great Indian One-horned Rhinoceros.

Fauna: Indian One Horned Rhino, Leopard, Jackel, Wild Boar, Chinese Pangolin, Smooth Indian Otter, Large Indian Civet Cat, Small Indian Civet Cat, etc. Birds: Greater Adjutant Stork, Lesser Adjutant Stork, White-necked Stork, Black-necked Stork, Spotbilled Pelican, Swamp Francolin, White-bellied Heron, White Ibis, Greylag Goose, Ferruginous Duck, Falcated Teal, etc.