Dibru-Saikhowa National Park ASSAM

Dibru-Saikhowa National Park :

The little known wildlife sanctuary of Dibru-Saikhowa is an area of grassland and swamp forest sandwiched between the Brahmaputra and Dibru rivers in the east of Assam. Contained between these rivers, the park is a 340sq km reserve, which was set up with a view to protecting the grassland and swamp habitat on the flood plains of the Brahmaputra River.Dibru-Saikhowa is one of the biodiversity hot spots situated in the south bank of the river Brahmaputra in the extreme east of Assam state in India. It lies between 27&deg30' N to 27&deg45' N latitude and 95&deg10' E to 95&deg45'E longtitute at an average altitude of 118 m (range 110-126m) above the mean sea level. Biogeographically the area exhibits the properties of both the Indian and malayan sub regions and represents the North Eastern India-Brahmaputra valley Biogeographical province(9A). Dibru-Saikhowa is among the most vibrant wildness on earth and is also distinct for her pristine scenic beauty. Situated in the flood plan of Brahmaputra, Dibru-Saikhowa is a safe haven for many extremly rare and endangered species of wild life.VEGETATION T he forest type of Dibru-Saikhowa comprises of semievergreen forests,deciduos forests, littoral and swamp forests and patches of wet evergreen forests. The National Park is having about 35.84% moist mixed forests, 9.50% degraded forests and 21.25% grassland. Main tree species of the area are Salix tetrasperma, Bischofia javanica, Dillenia indica,Bombax ceiba,Terminalia myriocarpa,Lagerstroemia parviflora,Mesua ferrea, Dalbergia sissoo,Ficus spp. etc. are some of the species of the orchid flora of Dibru-Saikhowa. Arundo donax,Imperata cylindrica,Phragmaties karka,Erianthus ravanea, Saccharum spp. are dominant species of grasses in the Natioal Park.

It has numerous internal water channels, seasonally flooded forests, "beels", and grassy pockets. This makes it an interesting birding destination for rare specialised grassland and swamp forest birds such as the threatened Marsh Babbler, Jerdon's Babbler, Black-breasted Parrotbill, Swamp Prinia and Jerdon’s Bushchat. Some of the other birds found here are Swamp Francolin, Cotton Pygmy-goose, Spot-billed Duck, Speckled Piculet, Drongo Cuckoo, Pale-capped Pigeon, Grey-headed Lapwing, Slenderbilled Vulture, Red-necked Falcon, Peregrine Falcon, Darter, Rosy Minivet, Spangled Drongo, Little Pied Flycatcher, Pale-chinned Flycatcher, White-tailed Rubythroat, White-tailed Stonechat, Spot-winged Starling, Pale-footed Bush Warbler, Japanese Bush Warbler, Chestnut-crowned Bush Warbler, Grey-sided Bush Warbler, Spotted Bush Warbler, Paddyfield Warbler, Clamorous Reed Warbler, Thick-billed Warbler, Smoky Warbler, Striped Tit-Babbler, Chestnut-capped Babbler, Jerdon's Babbler, Nepal Fulvetta, Ruby-cheeked Sunbird, Black-throated Sunbird, Crimson Sunbird, Black-breasted, Weaver, Streaked Weaver, Yellow-breasted Bunting, Black-faced Bunting.