Assam wildlife sanctuary carves out success story

Guwahati, June 9 : Crippled by problems of encroaching and poachers, the Sonai-Rupai animal sanctuary in the remote Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border has carved out a success story for itself with sound wildlife management.

Unlike other national parks and game reserves in the state that have languished over the years due to poaching and other ailments, the nearly 200 sq km sanctuary till today boasts of housing a variety of animals as well as valuable timber.

Situated on the picturesque river bank of Gabharu and only about an hour's drive from Sonitpur district headquarters of Tezpur, the sanctuary has sufficient grasslands to house elephants, rhinos, leopards and a host of other animals.

Moreover the unique climatic condition of the area helps in the growth of valuable wood and medicinal plants.

The sanctuary is also a haven for migratory birds apart from a host of big birds living inside the forest area including the peacock, hornbills and owls.

However, the jewel in the crown for the reserve forest, which was declared a sanctuary in 1998, is the addition of the rarest and smallest breed of wild pig, known as pigmy hog and the animals have found a natural home in the sanctuary.