Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary
Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, situated in the flood plains of River Brahmaputra in the district of Morigaon. The extent of the Protected area is 38.81 sq km lays between latitude 26012`N to 20615`N and longitude 91059` E to 92005` E Pobitora originally was a grazing reserve of erstwhile nagoan district, came into limelight during the year1961-62 For sighting of One Horned Rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis).
The area of 1584.76 ha was declared as reserve forest (RF) in 1971 vied Govt. Notification no.4/settlement/542/54 dt 18th November 1971. The adjunct Rajamayong Hill an area of 1191.86 ha was also a RF declared during 1957vied Govt. notification no. AFS 427/54/11 dt. 20th September 1957.
Keeping in view the importance of Rhino in the area, a Preliminary notification was issued declaring a total area of 3880.62 ha of land as Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary comprising both the RF(2776.62ha ) and Govt. Khas land 91104 ha) between the Rf vied Govt. notification FWR/19/87/39 dt 16th July 1987. Subsequently, final notification of the Sanctuary was published vied Govt.notification no. Frs/19/87/153 dt 17th March 1998 and published in Assam Gazette on 13th May 1989. The Govt. Khas land that brought within the periphery of Sanctuary are Murkata I & II with 336.00 ha, Diprang with 40.00 ha, Thengbhanga with 176 ha and Kamrup/Rajamayong Koritorkhas land with an area of 552 ha.
The natural boundary of the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary is the Garanga Beel on the South and river Brahmaputra on the North, rest of the boundary are artificial and suroundedby 27 villages. Significantly, the Pa is free from human habitation.
Just 60 km away from Guwahati is Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary is popular for deers and rhinos. This Sanctuary is around 2 hours drive from Guwahati. Pobitora or Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary which is situated I the famous Magical Village of Mayong in the Marigaon district of Assam in India. It has a dense population of the Great Indian one horned rhinoceros.
Pobitora is mainly famous for Indian one-horned Rhinoceros. There around 80 such Rhinoceros that can be seen easily around. Besides Rhinoceros the other animals are Asiatic Buffalo, Leopard, Wild bear, Civet cat etc. Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary is also home to more than 2000 migratory birds and various reptiles.
Pabitora Wildlife Sanctuary is quiet hilly and thus due to the difference inaltitudes, one can find a divers vegetation. The vegetation of the place may vary according to the height of the place. The Sanctuary is fully with a large number of coconut trees growing all over the place.
Pobitora has exceeded its rhino-bearing capacity and is overpopulated. The animals have begun moving outside the sanctuary in search of food, and chances of serious man – animal conflict are quite rife. Besides, the straying animals carry the riskof contracting diseases that afflict domestic animals. Under Indian Rhino vision 2020(IRV 2020) which is a joint program of the department of environment & forestes,Govt of Assam, WWF India, the International Rhino Foundation and the US fish & and wildlife service, six rhinos were trans located from Pobitora and re-inroduce into the Manas National Park between December 2010 and january 2011.Earlier, under the same program ,two rhinos were similarly translocated from Pobitora to the Manas national Park in 2008.
Success story:
The conservation model involving forest staff and fringe inhabitants is working wonderfully for Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary...
The conservation model involving forest staff and fringe inhabitants is working wonderfully for Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, Assam which is virtually an island surrounded by human settlements on all sides. The local people have taken keen interest in Pobitora, which augurs well for its long-term conservation prospects. That it has been a successful joint endeavour comprising forest personnel and local people including NGOs On the tourism front too, Pobitora now ranks among the State’s top wildlife destinations with more and more visitors, including many from abroad, flocking the sanctuary every year. Elephant rides and jeep safaris are major activities which are held by the Forest Department, Government of Assam in addition to bird watching trek and boating for sighting of river dolphins. Assam has obtained a huge success in saving the wildlife in India. At the late 90’s the number of the Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros was decreased to a countable finger number which today stands proudly with a scientifically sustainable even over populated in front of the world. Assam has a host of endangered and rare mammals, avian and amphibian species safely conserved in it which are pigmy hog, hispid hare, white winged wood duck, and great Indian hornbills among many others.
Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary has more than 190 species of birds, including many disappearing birds like the Spot-billed...
Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary has more than 190 species of birds, including many disappearing birds like the Spot-billed Pelican White-bellied Heron, Lesser Adjutant, Greater Adjutant and Swamp Francolin. The grasslands of Pobitora is the home for the most of the representative birds of the Brahmaputra floodplains such as Striated Babbler and Yellow Weaver. The wetlands of Pabitora attract thousands of waterfowl during winter. The site qualifies for A4iii criteria because more than 20,000 waterfowl are regularly found there. It has recorded 57 wetland species, including 16 ducks and geese and four species of storks. During a waterfowl count, more than 55,000 birds of 36 species were seen.
Oriental Pied have a large size, attractive colors, big crooked yellow beaks and a hollow hornlike structure or “casque”...
Oriental Pied have a large size, attractive colors, big crooked yellow beaks and a hollow hornlike structure or “casque” above their beaks which they use to make crackling noise. The female bird remains in the nest at the nesting time with the probably hatching eggs. She becomes entirely dependent upon the male bird for the food for herself and the newly born offsprings The Oriental Pied Hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris) is a kind of species of hornbill birds who belong to the Bucerotidae family. It is found in Assam and North East India, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Singapore, Thailand, Tibet and Vietnam. Cylindrical casque with black patch at tip, mainly black tail with white tips to outer feathers, and pale blue throat patch. Female has smaller casque, with black at posterior end, and black at tip of bill. HABITAT Open, moist broadleaved deciduous and evergreen forest; groves of large mangos, figs and other fruit trees near villages.
