Adventure & Wildlife Magazine - Vol 1|Issue 5-6| Nov 16 - Jan 17 Vol 2 | Issue 1 | Mar - May 2017 | Page 66

ADVENTURE & WILDLIFE The annual rainfall ranges from 2300 mm to 3800 mm. The main rainy months are June, July, August, Septem- ber. The average coldest and warmest temperature of the area ranges from 7 °C to 34 °C where June, July and Au- gust are the hottest while December and January are the coolest months. herpetofauna. Two species of monitor lizard, eight species of turtle and eight species of snake have been recorded. Birds The birds of Dibru-Saikhowa include greater adjutant, lesser adjutant, Indian cormorant, grey heron, purple heron, black-crowned night heron, yellow bittern, Asian openbill, black stork, fulvous whistling-duck, greylag goose, northern Conservation pintail, Pallas’s fish-eagle, Eurasian griffon, osprey, The area was declared as Dibru Reserved Forest in crested serpent-eagle, spot-billed pelican, white-winged 1890. In 1920, additional area was added to the Dibru wood duck, Baer’s pochard, greater spotted eagle, Bengal Reserve Forest. In 1929, Saikhowa Reserve Forest was florican, pale-capped pigeon, great pied hornbill, marsh declared. In 1933, more area was added to the Dibru RF. babbler, Jerdon’s babbler, black-breasted parrotbill, etc. In 1986, an area of 650 km2 was preliminarily declared as a wildlife sanctuary out of which finally 340 km2 was Travel declared as wildlife sanctuary in 1995. In 1997, Dibru- The park can be visited by staying at Tinsukia town from Saikhowa Biosphere Reserve was declared with and area where one can catch buses directly. of 765 km2 that included the 340 km2 of sanctuary area as the core. In 1999, the 340 km2 of sanctuary area was By air Mohanbari (Dibrugarh) is the nearest airport, declared as national park. which is about 40 km (25 mi). away from Tinsukia. Originally created to help conserve the habitat of the rare white-winged wood duck, the park is also home to other rare creatures such as water buffalo, black-breasted parrotbill, the Royal bengal tiger and capped langur. The park also has some eco lodges. By rail One of the easiest ways to reach Tinsukia town is by train. One can opt for Rajdhani trains from Delhi city which pass through the route to Dibrugarh. By road Buses can be taken to the town of Tinsukia which is well connected with Dibrugarh town by NH 37 Flora and the distance is 55 km (34 mi). The distance between The forest of Dibru-Saikhowa consists of semi-evergreen the city of Guwahati and Dibru Saikhova National Park forests, deciduous, littoral and swamp forests and p will be around 500 kilometres (310 mi) approximately. atches of wet evergreen forests. The national park is Travel through the buses can get quite uncomfortable about 35.84% moist mixed forest, 9.50% degraded forest due to improper maintenance and crowds. and 21.25% grassland. Major tree species of the area are tetrasperma, Dillenia indica, Bischofia javanica, Bombax ceiba, Lagerstroemia parviflora, Terminalia myriocarpa, Mesua ferrea, Dalbergia sissoo, and Ficus. Orchid flora of Dibru-Saikhowa, Arundo donax, Imperata cylindrica, Phragmaties karka, Erianthus ravanea are principal types of grasses in the national park. Fauna Mammals Thirty-six species of mammals have been recorded from the Dibru-Saikhowa, of which 12 are listed in the schedule 1 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972. Species include: royal Bengal tiger, leopard, clouded leopard, jungle cat, sloth bear, dhole, small Indian civet, Malayan giant squirrel, Chinese pangolin, Gangetic dolphin, slow loris, pig tailed macaque, Assamese macaque, rhesus macaque, capped langur, Hoolock gibbon, Asian elephant, wild boar, sambar, hog deer, barking deer, Asiatic water buffalo, and feral horse. Reptiles Dibru-Saikhowa is rich and diverse in 66 Vol 2|Issue 1|Mar - May 2017