In news- Assam has got its 6th and 7th National parks- Dehing Patkai wildlife sanctuary and Raimona reserve forest.
About the new parks-
- Assam till now had five national parks — Kaziranga, Nameri, Orang, Manas and Dibru-Saikhowa.
- The new National parks would help promote conservation efforts and aid tourism and agriculture sectors as well.
- Assam now is the state with the third highest number of national parks (7) in the country, after Madhya Pradesh’s 11 and Andaman and Nicobar’s 9.
- The Dehing Patkai wildlife sanctuary (notified in 2004) is located inside the larger Dehing Patkai Elephant Reserve, which spreads across Dibrugarh, Tinsukia and Sivasagar districts of Upper Assam.
- It is believed to be the last remaining contiguous patch of lowland rainforest area in Assam.
- It is known for its elephant population, and 47 mammal species, 47 reptile species and 310 butterfly species.
- It is said to have the highest concentration of the rare endangered White Winged Wood Duck.
- The decision to upgrade it to a national park was announced by the Assam government in July 2020, just months after the illegal coal mining controversy in the park.
- The Raimona national park is surrounded by the Phipsoo Wildlife Sanctuary in Bhutan to its north, the Buxa Tiger Reserve in West Bengal to its west and the Manas National Park to its east.
- The area is home to the golden langurs, elephants, tiger, clouded leopard, several species of orchids.
Source: Indian Express
