Orang National Park and Tiger Reserve closed for visitors

MANGALDAI: Orang National Park and Tiger Reserve (ONPTR) has been closed for visitors with effect from May 15 until further notice.

The gipsy safari and the elephant safari will also be closed during this period. Presently, a total of 125 one-horned rhinos and 26 Royal Bengal Tigers, besides other flora and fauna, are the main attractions for tourists in this park.

The Orang National Park & Tiger Reserve, known for its dense forests and diverse habitats, will stop offering jeep and elephant safaris.

Located on the northern banks of the Brahmaputra River, Orang is an important sanctuary for the Royal Bengal Tiger, as well as other species like the Great Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros and the Asian elephant.

This decision to halt tourist activities is part of a regular practice in Assam. Typically, the tourist season for all national parks and wildlife sanctuaries begins in October and ends in mid-May of the following year.

While this closure might disappoint wildlife enthusiasts and tourists, it highlights the authorities' dedication to wildlife conservation and habitat preservation.

The Orang National Park covers an area of 78.81 square kilometers (30.43 square miles) on the northern bank of the Brahmaputra River, situated between 26.483°N 92.266°E and 26.666°N 92.45°E in the Darrang and Sonitpur districts.

It is bordered by the Pachnoi River, Belsiri River, and Dhanshiri River, all of which flow into the Brahmaputra. During the monsoon, the park experiences significant flooding, with many streams merging. There are twelve wetlands and twenty-six artificial water bodies in the park.

The park's terrain is primarily made up of alluvial floodplains from the surrounding rivers and is a key part of the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot. The park's total area is classified based on the type of terrain.

Because of its diverse range of bird species, including endangered and rare birds, the park is recognized as one of BirdLife International's "Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas" (IBAs).

BirdLife International regards it as the most important bird wet-grassland site on the Indo-Gangetic plain and one of three "outstanding" IBAs in Assam. The park is a habitat for various migratory birds, water birds, predators, scavengers, and game birds.

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