Dibru-Saikhowa National Park

Dibru-Saikhowa National Park
Dibru-Saikhowa Biosphere Reserve
IUCN category II (national park)
Map showing the location of Dibru-Saikhowa National Park
Location Assam, India
Nearest city Tinsukia
Coordinates 27°40′N 95°23′E / 27.667°N 95.383°E / 27.667; 95.383Coordinates: 27°40′N 95°23′E / 27.667°N 95.383°E / 27.667; 95.383
Area 350 km2 (140 sq mi)
Established 1999

Dibru-Saikhowa (Pron: ˈdɪbru: ˌsaɪˈkəʊwə) National Park is a national park in Assam, India. It is located in Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts and was designated a Biosphere Reserve in July 1997 with an area of 765 km2 (295 sq mi), including a core area of 340 km2 (130 sq mi) and a buffer zone of 425 km2 (164 sq mi).

It is located at about 12 km (7.5 mi) north of Tinsukia town at between 27°30' N to 27°45' N latitude and 95°10' E to 95°45'E longitude at an average elevation of 118 m (387 ft), ranging from 110 to 126 m (361 to 413 ft). The park is bounded by the Brahmaputra and Lohit rivers in the north and Dibru river in the south. It mainly consists of moist mixed semi-evergreen forests, moist mixed deciduous forests, canebrakes and grasslands. It is the largest salix swamp forest in north-eastern India, with a tropical monsoon climate with a hot and wet summer and cool and usually dry winter. Annual rainfall ranges from 2300 mm to 3800 mm. It is a haven for many endangered species and rich in fish diversity.[1][2]

Conservation

The area was declared as Dibru Reserved Forest in 1890. In 1920, additional area was added to the Dibru Reserve Forest. In 1929, Saikhowa Reserve Forest was declared. In 1933, more area was added to the Dibru RF. In 1986, an area of 650 km2 was preliminarily declared as a wildlife sanctuary out of which finally 340 km2 was declared as wildlife sanctuary in 1995. In 1997, Dibru-Saikhowa Biosphere Reserve was declared with and area of 765 km2 that included the 340 km2 of sanctuary area as the core. In 1999, the 340 km2 of sanctuary area was declared as national park.[3]

Originally created to help conserve the habitat of the rare white-winged wood duck, the park is also home to other rare creatures such as water buffalo, black-breasted parrotbill, tiger and capped langur. The park also has some eco lodges.

Flora

The forest of Dibru-Saikhowa consists of semi-evergreen forests, deciduous, littoral and swamp forests and patches of wet evergreen forests. The national park is about 35.84% moist mixed forest, 9.50% degraded forest and 21.25% grassland. Major tree species of the area are tetrasperma, Dillenia indica, Bischofia javanica, Bombax ceiba, Lagerstroemia parviflora, Terminalia myriocarpa, Mesua ferrea, Dalbergia sissoo, and Ficus. Orchid flora of Dibru-Saikhowa, Arundo donax, Imperata cylindrica, Phragmaties karka, Erianthus ravanea are principal types of grasses in the national park.[4]

Fauna

Mammals: 36 mammal species have been recorded, of which 12 are listed in Schedule 1 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972.[5] Species include Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, clouded leopard, jungle cat, sloth bear, dhole, small Indian civet, Malayan giant squirrel, Chinese pangolin, Gangetic dolphin, slow loris, pig tailed macaque, Assamese macaque, rhesus macaque, capped langur, Hoolock gibbon, Asian elephant, wild boar, Sambar deer, hog deer, barking deer, Asiatic water buffalo, and feral horse.[6]

Reptiles: two species of monitor lizard, eight turtle species and eight snake species have been recorded.

Birds recorded include greater adjutant, ferruginous pochard, Jerdon's babbler, black-breasted parrotbill, marsh babbler, puff-throated babbler, Jerdon's bushchat, rufous-rumped grassbird, chestnut-crowned bush warbler,[7] lesser adjutant, Sarus crane, Bengal florican, spot-billed pelican, white-necked stork, black stork, black-necked stork, white-bellied heron, glossy ibis, fulvous whistling-duck, bar-headed goose, common shelduck, white-winged duck, spot-billed duck, Baer's pochard, swamp francolin, Himalayan griffon, white-tailed eagle, Pallas's fish-eagle, grey-headed fish eagle, greater spotted eagle, white-backed vulture, slender-billed vulture, lesser kestrel, brown fish owl, great pied hornbill, spotted redshank, spotted greenshank,[8] Indian cormorant, grey heron, purple heron, black-crowned night heron, yellow bittern, Asian openbill, greylag goose, northern pintail, osprey, crested serpent-eagle, white-winged wood duck, pale-capped pigeon.

Travel

The park can be visited by staying at Tinsukia town from where one can catch buses directly.

By air Mohanbari (Dibrugarh) is the nearest airport, which is about 40 km (25 mi). away from Tinsukia.

By rail One of the easiest ways to reach Tinsukia town is by train. One can opt for Rajdhani trains from Delhi city which pass through the route to Dibrugarh.

By road Buses can be taken to the town of Tinsukia which is well connected with Dibrugarh town by NH 37 and the distance is 55 km (34 mi). The distance between the city of Guwahati and Dibru Saikhova National Park will be around 500 kilometres (310 mi) approximately. Travel through the buses can get quite uncomfortable due to improper maintenance and crowds.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Choudhury, A.U. (1994). A report on bird survey in Dibru–Saikhowa Wildlife Sanctuary, Assam, India. Report to Oriental Bird Club, UK. 71pp+maps.
  2. ↑ Choudhury, A.U. (1998). Mammals, birds and reptiles of Dibru-Saikhowa Sanctuary, Assam, India. Oryx 32(3):192-200.
  3. ↑ Choudhury, A.U. (2009). The genesis of a national park. In Incredible Dibru–Saikhowa National Park. Dwivedi, K.K. (ed.). Dibru–Saikhowa Conservation Society, Tinsukia, India. Pp. 6-11.
  4. ↑ "Dibru Saikhowa Wildlife Sanctuary - Information, Safari and Tours - Wildlife of India". www.thewildlifeofindia.com. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  5. ↑ Duttai, R. (2014). "Floodwaters force animals to flee Dibru-Saikhowa National Park - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  6. ↑ Bhuyan, A. (2011). "Warhorses Gone Wild". Open Media Network Pvt. Ltd. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  7. ↑ Allen, D. (2002). "A bird survey of the Amarpur area of the Dibru-Saikhowa Biosphere Reserve, Assam, India". Forktail 18: 87−92.
  8. ↑ Choudhury, A. (2006). "Birds of Dibru-Saikhowa National Park and Biosphere Reserve, Assam, India". Indian Birds 2 (4): 95−105.
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