Adventure & Wildlife Magazine - Vol 1|Issue 5-6| Nov 16 - Jan 17 Vol 2 | Issue 1 | Mar - May 2017 | Page 62

ADVENTURE & WILDLIFE recent origin on the bank of the Brahmaputra river and the other is the upper terrace to the north, separated by a high bank running through the park. The whole park is encircled by inhabited villages thus subjecting it to biotic pressure. It has fox holes built by the villagers on its west. The great Indian one-horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) even though well conserved now in many national parks and in captivity, is still in the endangered list of IUCN and its population is estimated at 68, as per census carried out by the forest department, in 2006. Fauna Orang park contains significant breeding populations of several mammalian species. Apart from the great Indian one-horned rhinoceros (68 at the last count), which is the dominant species of the national park, the other key species sharing the habitat are the royal Bengal tiger (Pantheratigris), Asiatic elephant, pygmy hog, hog deer and wild boar. Some important species of the critically endangered and endangered category are the following. Fishes More than 50 species of fish have been recorded in the river and channels flowing through the park. The pygmy hog, a small wild pig, is critically endangered, C2a(ii) ver 3.1 as per IUCN listing, and is limited to about 75 animals in captivity, confined to a very few locations in and around north-western Assam, including the Orang National Park where it has been introduced. Other mammals reported are the blind Gangetic dolphin, Indian pangolin, hog deer (Axis porcinus), rhesus macaque, Bengal porcupine, Indian fox, small Indian civet, otter, leopard cat (Prionailurusbengalensis), fishing cat (Felisviverrina) and jungle cat (Felischaus). The royal Bengal tiger (Pantheratigristigris), categorized as endangered on the IUCN Red List (IUCN, 2008), has an estimated population of about 19 (data source:- Forest Department of Assam; census year 2000, based on pug marks) in the park. 62 Avian Fauna The park is home to a variety of migratory birds, water birds, predators, scavengers and game birds. 47 families of Anatidae, Accipitridae, Addenda and Ardeiae are found in the park with maximum number of species. 222 species of birds have so far been recorded, some of which are: spot-billed pelican (Pelicanusphilippensis), great white pelican, black-necked stork (Ephippiorhynchusasiaticus), greater adjutant stork (Leptoptilosdubius), lesser adjutant stork (Leptoptilosjavanicus), ruddy shelduck (Tadornaferruginea), gadwall (Anasstrepera), brahminy duck, mallard (Anasplatyrhynchos), pintail (Anasacuta), hornbills, Pallas’s fish eagle (Haliaeetusleucoryphus), king fisher and woodpecker, in addition to forest and grassland birds. But Bengal florican (Houbaropsisbengalensis), which is in the threatened list of IUCN is one of the flagship species in the park with a population 30-40 (recorded second highest concentration as per Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS)) and is in the threatened list of IUCN. Migratory birds as far as from America such as the milky American white pelicans have also been reported in the park. Vol 2|Issue 1|Mar - May 2017