Assam: Poba reserve forest to get wildlife sanctuary tag

In a significant boost for wildlife conservation in Assam, Poba Reserve Forest in Dhemaji district will be declared as the state's 18th wildlife sanctuary.This was announced by State Environment and Forests Minister, Chandra Mohan Patowary in the state Legislative Assembly while highlighting the commitment of the State to conserve valuable biodiversity and sustainable development. The newly notified Poba Wildlife Sanctuary covers an area of 257.29 square kilometers and is made up of the existing Poba Reserve Forest, the Kabu Chapori proposed reserve forest, and the surrounding riverine zones.
The most striking feature of Poba is that it forms an important part of the elephant migration corridor linking the D'Ering Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary and Kabu Chapori Proposed Reserve Forest in the north with the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park in the south. This corridor is one of two major routes used by herds of 70-80 elephants while crossing from the north to the south bank of the Brahmaputra River, the other being via Panpur-Kaziranga. These pathways are used almost throughout the year, especially by the male elephants, making the corridor all the more important.
The Poba Reserve Forest is also home to quite a few arboreal species, the most elusive being the slow loris and the capped langur. The wild boar is the major component of the mammalian population in the forest, though there are roughly 45 species of birds and reptiles. The meeting of the Siang and Lohit rivers within the sanctuary breeds a wide range of fish species, adding further to its ecological richness.
Besides, Poba boasts of unrivaled congregations of orchids and hence the place is in demand by nature lovers as well as researchers. Recognition of the sanctuary, in fact, forms a major milestone toward saving and augmenting the rich natural heritage of Assam.Assam has at present six National Wildlife Parks, of whom, Kaziranga and Manas National Parks being declared as UNESCO's World Heritage sites.

(State Correspondent)