Seven Iconic Wild Animals Found In Assam And Where To See Them

Assam is one of India's most successful states in terms of wildlife conservation. It is home to the highest population of one-horned rhinos. It also has a stable population of Bengal tigers. However, it is not just the megafauna. Assam is also one of the last remaining refuges of several highly threatened species like the Bengal florican, pygmy hog, Hoolock gibbon, and others. Here are the seven iconic animals found in Assam.

Western Hoolock Gibbon

A male hoolock gibbon. Image credit: Timothy A. Gonsalves via Wikimedia Commons.

The Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary near Jorhat, Assam, is India's only sanctuary dedicated to primates. In fact, the Western hoolock gibbon is the only non-human primate found in India and this sanctuary is one of the best destinations to observe and photograph this species. These gibbons are also found in the Kaziranga Tiger Reserve and some other destinations in Assam. The Western hoolock gibbon is an endangered species threatened primarily by the loss, fragmentation, and degradation of its tropical rainforest habitat. In Assam, one of its last refuges, the Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary, is also suffering from habitat fragmentation due to a railway line cutting through the sanctuary and tea plantations surrounding the protected area. Since the gibbons are almost fully arboreal, living high up in tree canopies, an absence of forest restricts their movement.

One-horned Rhinoceros

A one-horned rhino mother and baby in Kaziranga Tiger Reserve, Assam. Image credit: Joli via Wikimedia Commons.

Assam's rhino conservation story is one of the world's most successful conservation initiatives. In just six decades, the state increased its one-horned rhino population by fivefold, from around 600 in the 1960s to over 3,000 in 2024. Thus, Assam accounts for around 70% of the global population of this species. The Kazirangage Tiger Reserve in Assam holds around 80% of India's one-horned rhino population. Small populations are also found in the state's Orang National Park, Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, and Manas National Park. Poaching and habitat loss are the biggest threats to this Vulnerable species. Rhinos are poached for their horns that are sold in the illegal wildlife trade market for Chinese traditional medicines. However, with the strict implementation of the law, Assam has managed to reduce poaching to almost negligible in the state, which has allowed the rhino numbers to increase in Assam.

White-winged Wood Duck

A white-winged wood duck, the State Bird of Assam. Image credit: Christiaan Luttenberg Burgers' Zoo via Wikimedia Commons.

Assam's state bird is among the world's most threatened birds. Its conservation status is labelled as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. This large and elegant-appearing duck needs both wetlands and forests for survival. It roosts and nests in tree hollows and inhabits slow-flowing streams or stagnant water bodies. It is an omnivore that feeds on fish, insects, arachnids, pondweed, etc. In Assam, the bird's distribution is primarily restricted to protected areas like Dibru-Saikhowa National Park, Dehing Patkai National Park, and Nameri National Park. The bird's wetland habitats are threatened by wetland siltation, drainage, and invasive weed infestations. Encroachment and illegal logging threaten the forest habitats of the species.

Bengal Tiger

A Bengal tiger in Kaziranga Tiger Reserve, Assam. Image credit: Sai Adikarla via Flickr.com.

From only 70 tigers in 2006 to 227 in 2022, Assam has also successfully conserved its Indian tigers. The state is home to three tiger reserves - the Kaziranga, Manas, and Nameri. Kaziranga National Park is among India's most famous destinations for spotting wild tigers. The Manas National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that also has a growing tiger population and is famous for its scenic beauty. Successful tiger conservation in Assam has not only helped increase tiger numbers but also that of many other species who share their habitat with this apex and umbrella species.

Bengal Florican

A male Bengal florican in Orang Tiger Reserve, Assam. Image credit: Nejib Ahmed via Wikimedia Commons.

Assam is also home to another highly threatened bird, the Bengal florican, which is on the brink of extinction. It is a Critically Endangered species found in grasslands, which are among the most threatened ecosystems. Only around 1,000 Bengal floricans survive today. In Assam, Bengal floricans are found in the grasslands habitats of national parks like Kaziranga and Manas. However, populations of the species in the grasslands of non-protected areas like the Kamrup, Tinsukia, and Jorhat districts continue to be heavily threatened. Grasslands in these areas suffer from encroachment by humans for agriculture and habitation. Since these birds are ground-nesting, their nests become highly vulnerable to disturbances. Predation by feral dogs or trampling of nests also happens. Several organisations like the Bombay Natural History Society are working in Assam to protect these birds and bring them back from the brink.

Binturong/Bearcat

A binturong on a tree branch. Image credit: TassiloRau via Wikimedia Commons.

The binturong is a threatened viverrid species found in parts of Assam. It is India's largest civet species and is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Observing the binturong in the wild is very difficult as it is primarily arboreal and nocturnal. However, it also does come to the ground to move from one tree to another as it is quite heavy and hence, less agile to jump. It is an omnivorous animal that feeds on a variety of small mammals, reptiles, birds, insects, etc., as well as plant parts. The binturong suffers from deforestation and poaching for illegal wildlife trade.

Pygmy Hog

A pygmy hog in the Assam captive breeding centre. Image credit: A. J. T. Johnsingh, WWF-India and NCF via Wikimedia Commons.

Pygmy hog, one of the smallest wild pig species, is also endangered. This species is endemic to India, where it is found in the grasslands near the Himalayan foothills. Today, the species has been wiped out across most of its range except for Assam, where pygmy hog conservation is taking place at a rapid pace. An NGO named Aaranyak is working to captively breed pygmy hogs and several captive-bred individuals have already been released in the Manas Tiger Reserve and other protected areas in Assam. The conservation issue facing so many grassland-dwelling species exhibits the urgent need to conserve grassland ecosystems.