Barnadi Wildlife Sanctuary: Assam

Barnadi Wildlife Sanctuary: Assam

Part of: GS Prelims and GS -III – Environment

In news

• Recently, the World Wide Fund for Nature-India (WWF) found a few tigers inhabiting the Barnadi Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam.
• It is one of the smallest WS (Wildlife Sanctuary) of Assam

About the Sanctuary

• It is located in northern Assam’s Baksa and Udalguri districts bordering Bhutan.
• It is bordered by the Barnadi river and Nalapara river to the west and east respectively.
• Barnadi was established specifically to protect the Pygmy Hog (Sus salvanius) and Hispid Hare (Caprolagus hispidus).
• About 60% of the BWS is reported to be grassland, most of it is now grassy woodland.
• The main Forest types: Tropical Moist Deciduous (northern edge of the Sanctuary) and mixed scrub and grassland (southern part).
• Most of the natural vegetation has been replaced by commercial plantations of Bombax ceiba, Tectona grandis and Eucalyptus and by thatch grasses 

Other Protected Areas in Assam:

• Dibru-Saikhowa National Park
• Manas National Park
• Nameri National Park
• Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park
• Kaziranga National Park.