Dibru-Saikhowa National Park
[Introduction] Dibru-Saikhowa is a National Park as well as a Biosphere Reserve and an identified Important Bird Area (IBA). It was designated a Biosphere Reserve in July 1997.
[Location] It is situated on the south bank of the river Brahmaputra in the extreme east of Assam state in India.
[Geography] It has an area of about 765 km2, including a core area of about 340 km2and a buffer zone of nearly 425 km2.
- The park is bounded by Brahmaputra and Lohit rivers in the north and the Dibru river in the south.
[Climate] The climate of Dibru-Saikhowa is of tropical monsoon type with hot and wet summers and usually dry winters.
[Vegetation] The forest type of Dibru-Saikhowa comprises semi-evergreen forests, deciduous forests, littoral and swamp forests, and patches of wet evergreen forests.
- It is the largest salix swamp forest in north-east India.
[Wildlife] Situated in the flood plain of Brahmaputra, the Dibru-Saikhowa is a haven for many extremely rare and endangered species of Wildlife.
- Originally, it was created to conserve the habitat of rare white-winged wood duck. Now, it is home to notable species of mammals – Bengal Tiger, Indian Leopard, Clouded Leopard, Sloth Bear, Small Indian Civet, Chinese Pangolin, Gangetic Dolphin, Rhesus & pig-tailed Macaque, Asian Elephants, etc.
- Important bird species include – Sarus Crane, Bengal Florican, Himalayan Griffon, etc.
- The park is one of the few places in the world which is home to feral horses.
- In December 2020, Gauhati High Court stayed permission given to Oil India Limited for hydrocarbon exploration at various locations inside the protected area.
