National Parks & Sanctuaries
National parks and sanctuaries form an important topic in the Assam's Geography section of the ADRE 3.0 Grade IV General Knowledge and Assam GK paper. Assam is one of the richest states in India in wildlife, and it is home to the one-horned rhinoceros, the tiger, the elephant, the golden langur and many rare birds and animals. This topic tests the candidate's knowledge of the famous national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, their location, their special animals and the protected areas declared for conservation. Because the questions are usually direct and name-based, a clear list of parks with their districts and special features is the surest way to score here.
Meaning and Importance of Protected Areas
A national park is a protected area set up mainly for the conservation of wildlife and the natural environment, where human activity is strictly limited. A wildlife sanctuary is also a protected area, but it allows some limited activities such as grazing and the collection of forest produce. Assam has several of both, along with tiger reserves, elephant reserves, biosphere reserves and bird sanctuaries. These protected areas are important because they save rare species, maintain the ecological balance and support tourism and research. The Brahmaputra valley and the hills around it give Assam a great variety of habitats.
Main National Parks of Assam
- Kaziranga National Park, in Golaghat and Nagaon districts, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is famous for the one-horned rhinoceros; it has the highest density of rhinos in the world.
- Manas National Park, in Baksa and Chirang districts, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a tiger reserve, an elephant reserve and a biosphere reserve, and is famous for the golden langur and the pygmy hog.
- Nameri National Park, in Sonitpur district, lies on the Jia Bharali river and is a tiger reserve and an elephant reserve.
- Orang National Park, also called Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park, in Darrang and Sonitpur districts, is called the mini Kaziranga for its rhinos.
- Dibru-Saikhowa National Park, in Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts, is a biosphere reserve famous for feral horses and the white-winged wood duck.
- Raimona National Park, in Kokrajhar district, was declared a national park in 2021 and is known for the golden langur.
- Dehing Patkai National Park, in Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts, protects a large area of tropical rainforest and is also called the Amazon of the East.
Important Wildlife Sanctuaries of Assam
Assam has many wildlife sanctuaries. Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary in Morigaon district is famous for having one of the highest densities of the one-horned rhinoceros. Chakrashila Wildlife Sanctuary in Kokrajhar is known for the golden langur. Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary in Jorhat protects the hoolock gibbon, India's only ape. Deepor Beel in Kamrup is a Ramsar site and a bird sanctuary near Guwahati. Panidihing in Sivasagar is a bird sanctuary. Other sanctuaries include Sonai Rupai, Nambor, Garampani, Borail, Amchang, Bornadi, East Karbi Anglong, Marat Longri and Bherjan-Borajan-Padumoni.
Tiger Reserves, Elephant Reserves and Bird Sanctuaries
Assam has four tiger reserves, namely Kaziranga, Manas, Nameri and Orang. These reserves are part of Project Tiger and protect the tiger and its habitat. The state also has several elephant reserves, including the Kaziranga, Sonitpur and Dihing-Patkai elephant reserves, which protect the movement of wild elephants. Deepor Beel, a Ramsar wetland near Guwahati, and Panidihing are important bird sanctuaries where migratory and resident birds are found. These categories of protected areas together form a strong network for wildlife conservation in Assam.
How This Topic Appears in the Examination
The topic is usually asked as a small group of one-mark objective questions. The questions ask the district in which a park is located, the famous animal of a park, the year in which a park was declared or the name of a Ramsar site. Because the facts are short and memorable, this topic gives good returns for the time spent, and a candidate who remembers the speciality of each park is unlikely to lose marks.
Memory Tips
Link each park with one special animal, such as Kaziranga with the one-horned rhinoceros, Manas with the golden langur and pygmy hog, Dibru-Saikhowa with feral horses and Dehing Patkai with the rainforest. Remember Pobitora for the highest density of rhinos and Hollongapar for the hoolock gibbon. Keep the four tiger reserves in a short list: Kaziranga, Manas, Nameri and Orang. Remember Deepor Beel as a Ramsar site near Guwahati. A chart of parks, districts and special animals is the best revision aid.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Confusing the districts in which Kaziranga and Manas are located.
- Mixing the special animals of Kaziranga and Manas.
- Forgetting that Pobitora is a wildlife sanctuary and not a national park.
- Confusing Dibru-Saikhowa with Dehing Patkai.
- Forgetting the year 2021 for the declaration of Raimona National Park.
How to Prepare This Topic
- Make a table of the national parks with their districts and special animals.
- List the important wildlife sanctuaries with their special features.
- Learn the four tiger reserves and the elephant reserves.
- Note the Ramsar sites and the bird sanctuaries of Assam.
- Test yourself with objective questions once a week.
Additional Points to Remember
Kaziranga was first proposed as a reserve forest in 1905 and was declared a national park in 1974, and it was recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985. Manas was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985 and is also a biosphere reserve. The one-horned rhinoceros, the golden langur and the pygmy hog are among the most important species protected in Assam. Deepor Beel is one of the few Ramsar wetlands of the north-east. The government has taken many steps to prevent poaching and to protect the habitats, and the success of rhino conservation in Kaziranga is famous all over the world.
Advanced Tips
When a question mentions a park, remember its district and its special animal, because either can be asked. When a question mentions a Ramsar site, remember Deepor Beel, since it is the most frequently asked wetland in Assam. Do not confuse national parks with wildlife sanctuaries, as the two have different rules and different names. Remember that Manas is unique because it is at the same time a national park, a tiger reserve, an elephant reserve and a biosphere reserve. Revising a single chart of parks, districts and species helps to fix the whole topic in memory.
Related Topics
National parks and sanctuaries are closely related to the other topics of Assam's Geography. They connect with the study of the Brahmaputra and Barak rivers, because the rivers and their floodplains form the habitat of many animals. They connect with natural resources, because forests, bamboo and other resources are part of the same landscape. They also connect with the environment and ecology topics of the syllabus, since conservation and the protection of wetlands are important themes. Studying these topics together gives a complete picture of Assam's physical and natural heritage.
Quick Revision Checklist
- Kaziranga is famous for the one-horned rhinoceros and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Manas is famous for the golden langur and the pygmy hog.
- Pobitora has one of the highest densities of the one-horned rhinoceros.
- Assam's four tiger reserves are Kaziranga, Manas, Nameri and Orang.
- Hollongapar protects the hoolock gibbon and Deepor Beel is a Ramsar site.
- Raimona National Park was declared in 2021.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which national park of Assam is famous for the one-horned rhinoceros?
Kaziranga National Park is famous for the one-horned rhinoceros, and it has the highest density of rhinos in the world.
Which national park of Assam is famous for the golden langur?
Manas National Park is famous for the golden langur and the pygmy hog, and it is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
How many tiger reserves are there in Assam?
Assam has four tiger reserves, namely Kaziranga, Manas, Nameri and Orang.
Which sanctuary of Assam has the highest density of rhinoceros?
Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary in Morigaon district is famous for having one of the highest densities of the one-horned rhinoceros.
Which wetland of Assam is a Ramsar site?
Deepor Beel, a wetland near Guwahati, is a Ramsar site and an important bird sanctuary of Assam.