3rd Year Special Annual Double Issue Vol 4 Issue 1 & 2 Jan - Apr 2 3rd Year Special Annual Double Issue Vol 4 Issue | Page 106

ADVENTURE & WILDLIFE
Manas National Park
A Paradise For Wildlife Enthusiasts.
Gautam and Sanhita Kar
T
he largest amongst the five National Parks
located in the eastern State of Assam,
Manas is cradled in the foothills of the
eastern Himalayas, on the north western
corner of the state and is contiguous with the
Royal Manas National park of Bhutan. Little
known
outside
eastern
India,
it
is
a veritable paradise for wildlife lovers. With the
blue green hills of Bhutan and the fast flowing
Manas river, the scenic beauty of Manas holds
a special charm. It is home to over 55 species
of mammals, 380 species of birds, 50 species
of reptiles, about 100 species of butterflies and
550 species of plants.
This includes some endemic species as well as
highly endangered species too. It is a Project
Tiger Reserve, an Elephant Reserve and a
Biosphere Reserve as well. The park covers a
total area of 950 square kms on the Indian side
and 1057 square kms on the Bhutan side. River
Manas from which the park gets its name, along
with a few other rivulets originating in the hills of
Bhutan, meander through the sanctuary. With the
availability of facilities for rafting in the Manas
river, visitors can enjoy wild life with adventure
tourism.
106
Once the hunting reserve of two royal families of
the region, the forest was first designated as a
wildlife sanctuary in 1922. The area covered by
the sanctuary was increased through notification
from time to time. In 1985 UNESCO declared the
sanctuary along with its counterpart in Bhutan a
World Heritage site. In 1990, Manas sanctuary
was accorded the status of a National Park after
some more areas were notified to be included in
the sanctuary.
The Park had a difficult time in the 1990’s. Taking
advantage of insurgency situation prevailing
in the region at that time, there was rampant
poaching of wildlife in the park. The one-horned
rhino, for example, was completely eliminated
and had to be re-introduced in 2007. In 1992,
UNESCO categorized the park in the “World
heritage in danger”category. With the signing
of the Bodo Accord, normalcy returned to the
region; local villagers were sensitised and made
to actively participate in the conservation
efforts and the park is now being recognized for
its efficient management. The population of all
animals including the rare and endangered have
grown. UNESCO has also withdrawn the “World
heritage in danger” label for the park in 2011.
Vol 4 | Issue 2 |Mar - Apr 2019