Ramsar Sites, Endemic Flora and Fauna of Assam
Assam's wildlife is not limited to its famous rhinoceroses and tigers. The state is also home to wetlands of international importance, to rare species found almost nowhere else, and to a set of official state symbols that every candidate should know by heart. From the Ganges river dolphin in the Brahmaputra to the golden langur of the Manas region and the foxtail orchid that gives Assam its state flower, this is the part of geography where nature, culture and conservation come together. It is also a topic that examiners love, because the facts are short, memorable and endlessly repeatable.
What is a Ramsar site?
A Ramsar site is a wetland designated under the Ramsar Convention for its international importance. The convention was signed at Ramsar in Iran in 1971 and came into force in 1975. Countries that join the convention agree to protect their listed wetlands and to use them wisely. Assam has one Ramsar site, the Deepor Beel, which was designated in 2002. Deepor Beel lies near Guwahati in Kamrup district and is one of the largest wetlands of the region. It is a vital habitat for migratory birds and for endangered species such as the greater adjutant stork and the Bengal florican, and it also helps absorb flood water for the city of Guwahati.
State symbols of Assam
Every aspirant should know Assam's official symbols because they appear in almost every general knowledge paper. The state animal is the one-horned rhinoceros, the pride of Kaziranga. The state bird is the white-winged wood duck, known in Assamese as Deo Hah, a rare duck of the forest wetlands. The state tree is the Hollong, whose scientific name is Dipterocarpus macrocarpus; it is the tallest tree of Assam's rainforests and its timber is valued for being resistant to termites. The state flower is the fox tail orchid, called Kopou phool in Assamese, whose scientific name is Rhynchostylis retusa. The Kopou phool is closely associated with the Bihu festival, where it is worn in the hair, which is why nature and culture are so closely linked in Assam.
Endemic and rare fauna
Assam shelters several species that are endemic or nearly so. The Ganges river dolphin, locally called susuk, lives in the Brahmaputra river system and is the national aquatic animal of India. The hoolock gibbon, India's only ape, is found in the forests of Assam and the wider north-east. The golden langur is a rare primate found only in a small belt around the Manas region of Assam and neighbouring Bhutan. The Brahmaputra floodplains are also home to the wild water buffalo and to the swamp deer, or barasingha, which is the largest deer found in the state. Among birds, the white-winged wood duck and the Bengal florican are the best-known endangered species. Assam's rivers hold endemic fish such as the pabho and the chital, and the hilsa-like riverine species that local fishers call na-mach.
Flora, forests and small wonders
The vegetation of Assam changes with the landscape. In the Kaziranga floodplain there are vast stretches of tall elephant grass mixed with tropical wet evergreen forest, a combination that suits the rhinoceros perfectly. The forests of the hills and the far east are richer still, and they are famous for their orchids. The blue orchid, Vanda coerulea, and the foxtail orchid, Rhynchostylis retusa, are among the most prized. Assam's rainforests also support striking insects such as the golden birdwing and the Kaiser-i-hind butterfly. Silk is another gift of these forests and their plants: muga, endi and pat silk are produced by silkworms that feed on specific trees, and cotton is used for the everyday gamosa. This is why the flora of Assam is not only beautiful but also economically important.
Threats to Assam's biodiversity
The main threat to Assam's endemic species is habitat loss. Floods and riverbank erosion destroy land every year, deforestation removes the forests that many species depend on, and encroachment and pollution shrink the wetlands. Poaching, especially of the rhinoceros, and the illegal wildlife trade add to the danger. Wetlands like Deepor Beel face the additional problems of siltation and urban waste. Conservation therefore works on several fronts at once: protecting habitats, restoring wetlands, keeping corridors open and involving local communities in the effort.
Why this topic matters for competitive examinations
This topic is a gift for objective papers. The questions are short and direct: the year of the Ramsar Convention, the year it came into force, the name and year of Assam's Ramsar site, the state animal, bird, tree and flower, and the species found in a particular park. The names of the state symbols in particular are asked in nearly every state-level examination. Because memorising them takes only a few minutes, this is one of the highest-scoring areas in the whole geography syllabus.
How to prepare this topic
- Fix the Ramsar basics: signed at Ramsar, Iran in 1971 and in force from 1975.
- Remember Assam's single Ramsar site, Deepor Beel, and its designation year 2002.
- Learn the four state symbols as a set - rhino, white-winged wood duck, Hollong tree and Kopou phool.
- Link the rare species with their region: golden langur with Manas, hoolock gibbon with the north-east forests, Ganges river dolphin with the Brahmaputra.
- Note the conservation threats, since questions on habitat loss and floods are common.
Common exam traps
- Assam has only one Ramsar site, not several; Deepor Beel is the only one.
- The Ramsar Convention was signed in 1971 but came into force in 1975 - the two years are often swapped.
- The state bird is the white-winged wood duck, not the hornbill or the peacock.
- The Ganges river dolphin is the national aquatic animal; it is not the same as the golden langur or the hoolock gibbon.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Ramsar sites does Assam have and which is it?
Assam has one Ramsar site, the Deepor Beel, which was designated in 2002. It is located near Guwahati in Kamrup district and is a large wetland important for migratory birds, for endangered species such as the greater adjutant stork and the Bengal florican, and for absorbing flood water in and around the city.
What are the state symbols of Assam?
The state animal of Assam is the one-horned rhinoceros, the state bird is the white-winged wood duck, the state tree is the Hollong tree (Dipterocarpus macrocarpus) and the state flower is the foxtail orchid or Kopou phool (Rhynchostylis retusa). These four symbols are asked so often that they should be memorised together as a single set.
Which rare animals of Assam are considered endemic?
The golden langur is a rare primate found only in the Manas region of Assam and neighbouring Bhutan. The hoolock gibbon, India's only ape, is another speciality of the region's forests. The Ganges river dolphin lives in the Brahmaputra system, and the wild water buffalo and swamp deer inhabit the floodplains, while the white-winged wood duck and Bengal florican are the best-known endangered birds.
What kind of vegetation is found in the Kaziranga floodplain?
The Kaziranga floodplain is dominated by tall elephant grass mixed with patches of tropical wet evergreen forest. This combination of dense grass and scattered forest gives the one-horned rhinoceros the cover and food it needs, and it also supports a wide range of birds and other animals, which is one reason Kaziranga has become such an important conservation area.
What are the main threats to the endemic species of Assam?
The main threats are habitat loss and fragmentation caused by floods, riverbank erosion, deforestation and encroachment, along with poaching and the illegal wildlife trade. Wetlands such as Deepor Beel also face siltation and pollution. Because these pressures work together, conservation in Assam tries to protect habitats, restore wetlands, keep wildlife corridors open and involve local communities.