Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary located in Assam’s Morigaon district has attracted migratory birds in plenty due to the onset of winter, despite being popular as the home of one-horned rhinoceros. The arrival of the migratory birds started in late October and up to this early November. Officials of forest have also added that the period of the most migration is from December and other months will have expected higher number of birds than the previous years. According to Pranjal Baruah, a Forest Ranger at Pobitora, most of the birds originate from the European countries and the Tibetan region. To this end the sanctuary has done everything possible to protect them.
Diverse Avian Population
The sanctuary received approximately sixty nine species of migratory birds last year. That is why this year birds have reeled before time and this season is going to be very busy for the tourists. Some of the avifauna that is found here has migrated thousands of Kilometres for this small sanctuary of Pobitora that offers habitats to these birds.
Conservation Efforts
To prevent disturbance of the birds and the other wildlife in the sanctuary, there has been an increase of surveillance. This is comprised out of 25 anti-poaching camps as well as constant integrated patrol. Such measures are important in preserving the natural integrity of the sanctuary and at the same time protect the inhabitants.
Boost to Tourism
It has contributed to increase in tourism. On an average 4,000 domestic and international tourists visited the Pobitora between October 14 and November 15 and they spent roughly Rs 5,00,000. Prolific with elephant back and jeep riding, the officials plan to receive many more visitors with the start of migration coming near. Eco-tourism has picked up in the sanctuary making the sanctuary a key player in environmental conservation and tourism.
Elephant and Jeep Safaris
Due to the constantly rising tourist arrivals, Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary has arranged for elephant and jeep tracking. Such tours created a great opportunity for a visitor to watch birds during their migration and other wildlife in its natural environments. These have received positive acceptance and enhanced the sanctuary receiving audience attraction as one of the most favourable destination for more nature and bird watching activities.
Future Prospects
As the peak migration period is round the corner, Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary is all set and ready to hosts more numbers of migratory birds and visitors. Efforts made by the sanctuary to conserve the birds and encourage eco-tourism will also enable it to grow up as the most significant wildlife conservation facilities. Continued comprehensive conservation efforts together with raised awareness will make Pobitora continue being established as a migratory bird’s sanctuary in addition to being a leading promoting authority for sustainable ecotourism in the state of Assam.
Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary
Not very large but loaded with a diverse population of fauna, Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in the geographic centre of Assam and has recently come into the lime light for home of one-horned rhinoceros and huge population of wildlife. This sanctuary covers an area of about 38.8 sq.kilometers; it is a combination of forest, grassland and wetland and an excellent habitat give or take. Set up in 1987, Pobitora is a successful wildlife protection facility and an inspiring place for tourists.
Rhinoceros Haven
Pobitora WLS is particularly famous for its large number of the Indian one-horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis). However, the area of this sanctuary is small and still it has the highest density of rhinos on a per hectare basis in the world. Various surveys conducted reveal that more than 100 Rhinos are living at Pobitora which could be seen as a success story given the challenges posed on Rhino population by poaching and loss of habitat for their population. Due to consistent conservation efforts of the rhinos, people credit the forest officials and techniques used in Pobitora for being a safe haven for the rhinos against poaching.
Avian Paradise
Apart from the rhinos, Pobitora is a great place for bird lovers. The ecosystems in the sanctuary support many types of bird and there are both breeding residents as well as a number of migratory birds. Pobitora opens for bird watching from October to March where migratory birds fly from as far as Europe, Siberia and Central Asia. Bird lovers can get to watch the greater adjutant stork, spot billed pelican, ducks, egrets and herons. Their habitats include wetlands that are present in the sanctuary where stopover is important for the birds’ conservation part of which can be observed by visitors.
Biodiversity and Wildlife
Apart from rhinos and birds Pobitora has several biomes of wildlife within its premises. Wild life of the sanctuary consists of several mammals such as leopard, wild boar, barking deer and Asiatic buffaloes. Deep vegetation cover including tall elephant grass and other types of forest contribute to the support of wild life. Numerous water bodies and marshes add to the Pobitora’s measures of ecological worth as other species of wetlands and swampy habitats help maintain the facility’s health by acting as homes to many types of animals.
Conservation Efforts
The principal goal of Pobitora is conservation. Wildlife conservation and natural resource protection standards at this sanctuary are stringent. Tent camps have been established at various locations across the sanctuary and routines patrols are made in order to arrest poachers. Another principle when it comes to Pobitora has also considered community involvement as part of its conservation agenda. Society participation levels offer a glimpse of what local communities are currently involved in awareness programs and sustainable projects. Forest officials, colleagues from wildlife conservation organizations, and the local population have played a key role in the work of the sanctuary.
Ecotourism and the Visitor Experience
There are assorted opportunities for ecotourism in Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary as the sanctuary provides tourists with an experience of the rising sun amidst the scenic and bionic beauty of the reserve and its fauna. Jeep and elephant safari are the common ways out to see the sanctuary and have close look at its residents in their natural habitat.
Threats and future Prospect
There are various challenges faced by the sanctuary, including human-wildlife conflict, and habitat degradation, the problem of poaching prowls in the sanctuary area. Overcoming these challenges, however, involves on-going and sustained initiatives in the conservation, rehabilitation, and public awareness programs. Investment in infrastructure should proceed hand in hand with improving monitoring systems and increasing the scale of conservation work.
The future of Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary looks promising as it continues to play a crucial role in wildlife conservation and biodiversity protection. The Government and other conservation organizations along with local people support, would help it to coronet its position as wildlife habitat and hope for Assamese wildlife conservation in the future.
Migratory Birds in the North Eastern States of India
The North Eastern part of India is a rich and highly diverse in ecological terms. This area is an important source of stopover and wintering habitats for migratory birds. These eight states, that form the northeast region of the country as Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura have got appropriate varieties of habitat like forests, grasslands, aquatic areas and river system. These conditions support various types of ecosystems, which in turn call for a myriad of migratory bird species all over the world which in turn makes it a perfect place for ornithologists and birders.
Key Migratory Bird Species
- Amur Falcon: Annually the population of the species Amur Falcon (Falco amurensis) fly to North Eastern States from Siberia and Northern China. Thousands of Amur Falcons are seen at the Doyang reservoirs in Nagaland before they fly off to Africa. Their migration covers a distance of roughly 22,000km, which the researchers consider to be one of the longest distances travelled by any species of bird.
- Greater Adjutant Stork: The Greater Adjutant Stork (Leptoptilos dubius) nests preferentially in Assam and especially the districts surrounding the Brahmaputra River. This animal lives in Southeast Asia and comes to Assam wetland and marshland. Their presence raises awareness of the fact that wetlands in the area work as important feeding and breeding grounds for the species.
- Bar-headed Goose: The Bar-headed Goose (Anser indicus) is another bird that migrates at high altitude across the Himalayas to get to the North – Eastern wetlands. Bar-headed Geese feed at lakes like Sangti Valley in Arunachal Pradesh or Loktak Lake in Manipur. It highlights the great role of the region as a temporary home for these incredible migrants.
- Siberian Rubythroat: The Siberian Rubythroat (Luscinia calliope) is a small and unobtrusive thrush that breeds in Siberia, but winters in the forests and grasslands of North East India. This song bird is seen in the places like the Kaziranga National Park where it feeds on the insect found in the region such as those found in the Namdapha National Park.
- Black-necked Crane: The wetlands of Zemithang valley in Arunachal Pradesh is preferred during the wintering by Black-necked Crane (Grus nigricollis). Breeding birds of northeastern populations come from the Tibetan plateau while the beautiful wintering birds are valued by the local people for their elegant appearance.
Ecological Significance
The movement of these birds to the North Eastern region supports and establishes the importance of the region to the ecological systems of earth. The variety of the habitats not only sustains regular bird populations but also contains resources suitable for migratory birds. Stop-overs are mainly found at wetlands, rivers, and forests before long and weary journeys and during which these birds get food, shelter as well as breeding grounds.
Conservation Efforts
The North Eastern region has to double up its conservation measures to protect these migratory species. Initiatives include:
- Habitat Protection: Conservation and restoring some of the wetlands, forests and grasslands so that the migratory birds are able to find the right places to feed. Some steps of preventing factors include; protection of critical species habitats such as protected areas and sustainable land use practices to sustain the ecological balance.
- Community Involvement: It is thus important to involve the locals in conservation. The community is motivated into being responsible for Michigan’s migratory birds and their breeding grounds through programs that educate people concerning the value of these birds and their habitats. For instance, in Nagaland, local people have followed proper methods of conserving Amur Falcons, and came against the hunters of the bird.
- Research and Monitoring: To analyse the migratory patterns of birds as well as the condition of their ecosystems, on-going surveys are conducted and existing data is updated. Bird surveys, satellite tagging, and other ecological researches are conducted in order to obtain data that are useful in release and protection programs.
- Eco-tourism: Conserving habitats that support birds as tourists attract people for such a purpose and at the same time benefits those in these regions economically. Arunachal Pradesh hosts a Ziro Bird Festival; bird watching tours and festivals are popular to witness the birding geography of the region.
Way Forward
However, current migratory birds in the North Eastern region are under some challenges including habitat loss, pollution and climate change. These problems can only be solved if all state structures and conservation organizations as well as local populations are involved.
Thus, the fate of migratory birds in NE region is concerned that future management and conservation of those extraordinary resources emphatically should continue the efforts to safeguard the habitats and reduce threats. Strengthening a culture of conservation along with optimising on the artistic dynamics of the North Eastern region, the states can go a long way in continuing to protect the migratory birds that bless their landscape.