Assam, one of the states in northeastern India, hosts two of the country’s most noted national parks. The national parks in Assam with their scenic landscapes combined with a rich diversity of flora and fauna are sure to serve as a paradise for nature lovers. Below is a list of the five national parks of Assam:
Dibru-Saikhowa National Park
This national park spans across the parts of the Tinsukia and Dibrugarh districts of Assam. In 1997, it was designated as a Biosphere Reserve and in 1999 as a national park. The park has a total area of 765 square km. Several rivers like the Brahmaputra, the Lohit, and the Dibru border the park in different directions. The vegetation here mainly consists of canebreaks, grasslands, semi-evergreen forests, and deciduous forests. The park hosts a great diversity of wildlife. It was originally set up to protect the white-winged wood duck. Today, it houses many other threatened species like the wild water buffalo, tiger, capped langur, black-breasted parrotbill, etc.
The Dibru-Saikhowa National Park hosts about 36 mammal species like the sloth bear, Indian leopard, Bengal tiger, clouded leopard, Gangetic dolphin, Assamese macaque, etc. At least 12 species of reptiles have been recorded here. The bird variety here is incredible and the park is a top spot for bird watching.
Kaziranga National Park
Kaziranga is one of the internationally renowned national parks. The incredible diversity of wildlife and spectacular natural landscapes of this park attract wildlife and nature lovers from across the world. It is also famous for its significant population great one-horned rhinoceroses. It hosts two-thirds of the global population of this species. The world’s highest tiger density in a national park is also found in Kaziranga. Thus, it is no wonder that it is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The vegetation of this park features grasslands of tall elephant grass, marshland, tropical moist broadleaf forests, etc. Wild water buffaloes, swamp deer, elephants, etc., are also found here. The BirdLife International has declared that the Kaziranga is an Important Bird Area since the birdlife here is highly diverse and numerous threatened species of birds are also seen here.
Manas National Park
This national park is one of the most scenic national parks in India. It is based on the banks of the Manas River with the Himalayan foothills visible across the river. It is also host to a great diversity of wildlife. It is an elephant and Project Tiger reserve as well as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and also a World Heritage site. The park is famous for its significant population of the wild water buffalo. The area that is now the national park was initially the hunting grounds of the Cooch Behar royal family. It became a national park in 1990 and a UNESCO World Heritage site two years later.
Two types of biomes are present here: the grassland and the forest biomes. The former serves as the home of the Indian rhinoceros, Asian buffalo, Bengal florican, etc. The latter is home to the slow loris, great hornbill, Malayan giant squirrel, capped langur, sambar, chital, and many more species of wildlife. 55 mammalian species, 380 species of birds, 3 amphibian species, 50 reptilians, etc., and many invertebrate species have been recorded here. Indian elephants, rhinos, tigers, leopards, dholes, black panthers, clouded leopards are some of the most famous resident species of the park.
Nameri National Park
This national park of Assam is located in the district of Sonitpur in the Himalayan foothills. The park encompasses an area of about 200 square km. It was established in 1998. Semi-evergreen and moist deciduous forests grow here with strips of grasslands. Over 600 species of trees are found here. The Nameri is noted for elephant population. It is also a birdwatcher’s delight as it hosts nearly 300 species of birds including many rare and threatened species. Mammalian life here is also rich and includes the leopard, bison, leopard cat, black bear, Indian giant squirrel, muntjac, and many more. Human/animal conflict and logging are the biggest threats to the wildlife population in Nameri. Poaching is also prevalent here.
The Orang National Park
Also known as the Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park, this national park of Assam is located in the Sontipur and Darrang districts of the country on the banks of the Brahmaputra River. The park has an area of 78.81 square km. It was declared a national park in 1999. The notable fauna of the park include elephants, wild buffaloes, tigers, the one-horned rhinoceros, and the pygmy hog. The park also hosts a rich birdlife. Unfortunately, the area of the park is subjected to the same threats as the Nameri National Park. The wildlife here is thus facing great threats to their survival.
Dibru-Saikhowa National Park
This national park spans across the parts of the Tinsukia and Dibrugarh districts of Assam. In 1997, it was designated as a Biosphere Reserve and in 1999 as a national park. The park has a total area of 765 square km. Several rivers like the Brahmaputra, the Lohit, and the Dibru border the park in different directions. The vegetation here mainly consists of canebreaks, grasslands, semi-evergreen forests, and deciduous forests. The park hosts a great diversity of wildlife. It was originally set up to protect the white-winged wood duck. Today, it houses many other threatened species like the wild water buffalo, tiger, capped langur, black-breasted parrotbill, etc.
Kaziranga National Park
Kaziranga is one of the internationally renowned national parks. The incredible diversity of wildlife and spectacular natural landscapes of this park attract wildlife and nature lovers from across the world. It is also famous for its significant population great one-horned rhinoceroses. It hosts two-thirds of the global population of this species. The world’s highest tiger density in a national park is also found in Kaziranga. Thus, it is no wonder that it is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Manas National Park
This national park is one of the most scenic national parks in India. It is based on the banks of the Manas River with the Himalayan foothills visible across the river. It is also host to a great diversity of wildlife. It is an elephant and Project Tiger reserve as well as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and also a World Heritage site. The park is famous for its significant population of the wild water buffalo. The area that is now the national park was initially the hunting grounds of the Cooch Behar royal family. It became a national park in 1990 and a UNESCO World Heritage site two years later.
Two types of biomes are present here: the grassland and the forest biomes. The former serves as the home of the Indian rhinoceros, Asian buffalo, Bengal florican, etc. The latter is home to the slow loris, great hornbill, Malayan giant squirrel, capped langur, sambar, chital, and many more species of wildlife. 55 mammalian species, 380 species of birds, 3 amphibian species, 50 reptilians, etc., and many invertebrate species have been recorded here. Indian elephants, rhinos, tigers, leopards, dholes, black panthers, clouded leopards are some of the most famous resident species of the park.
Nameri National Park
This national park of Assam is located in the district of Sonitpur in the Himalayan foothills. The park encompasses an area of about 200 square km. It was established in 1998. Semi-evergreen and moist deciduous forests grow here with strips of grasslands. Over 600 species of trees are found here. The Nameri is noted for elephant population. It is also a birdwatcher’s delight as it hosts nearly 300 species of birds including many rare and threatened species. Mammalian life here is also rich and includes the leopard, bison, leopard cat, black bear, Indian giant squirrel, muntjac, and many more. Human/animal conflict and logging are the biggest threats to the wildlife population in Nameri. Poaching is also prevalent here.
The Orang National Park
Also known as the Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park, this national park of Assam is located in the Sontipur and Darrang districts of the country on the banks of the Brahmaputra River. The park has an area of 78.81 square km. It was declared a national park in 1999. The notable fauna of the park include elephants, wild buffaloes, tigers, the one-horned rhinoceros, and the pygmy hog. The park also hosts a rich birdlife. Unfortunately, the area of the park is subjected to the same threats as the Nameri National Park. The wildlife here is thus facing great threats to their survival.
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