Rajiv Gandhi National Park To Be Renamed As Orang National Park

GUWAHATI: The state government has taken the decision to rename Rajiv Gandhi National Park as Orang National Park. This is the second instance in the country of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's name being removed from a major entity. Earlier this year, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award (the highest sporting honour of the Republic of India) was renamed as Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award.

On Wednesday, the state cabinet passed a resolution for renaming of Rajiv Gandhi National Park into Orang National Park. About the reason of changing the name of the park, the government said a large number of organisations had approached the government and appealed to it for renaming of the national park. It said it finalised the move taking the long-standing demands of the Adivasis and tea communities into consideration.

Rajiv Gandhi National Park, which is located on the northern bank of the Brahmaputra in Sonitpur and Darrang districts, is home to one of the maximum numbers of Royal Bengal tigers in India. Besides, the park (which is spread over an area of around 79.28 square kilometres) has wild animals like Indian Rhinos, Pygmy Hog, wild water buffaloes and wild elephants. It received the recognition of a wildlife sanctuary in the year 1985 and of a national park 14 years later in 1999.

Besides Rajiv Gandhi National Park, there are a number of national parks in Assam. These are Kaziranga, Manas, Dibru-Saikhowa, Nameri, Dhing-Patkai and Raimona national parks. There are also many wildlife sanctuaries in the state. Some of the major ones are – Pobitora wildlife sanctuary, Chakrashila wildlife sanctuary, Amsang wildlife sanctuary, Nambor wildlife sanctuary, Sonai-Rupai wildlife sanctuary, Garampani wildlife sanctuary and Hoolongapar Gibbon Sanctuary.

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