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| Dehing Patkai National Park | |
|---|---|
 Young Green Trinket Snake in Dehing Patkai National Park | |
  Location in Assam, India Show map of Assam Dehing Patkai National Park (India) Show map of India | |
 Interactive map of Dehing Patkai National Park | |
| Location | Dibrugarh andTinsukia,Assam |
| Nearest city | Khonsa,Naharkatia,Duliajan,Dibrugarh |
| Coordinates | 27°19′52″N95°31′34″E / 27.331°N 95.526°E /27.331; 95.526 |
| Area | 231.65 km2 (89.44 sq mi) |
| Established | 2004 |
| Governing body | Government of Assam |
Dehing Patkai National Park is anational park in theDibrugarh andTinsukia districts ofAssam covering an area of 231.65 km2 (89.44 sq mi) ofrainforest.[1] It is located in theDehing Patkai Landscape, which is adipterocarp-dominated lowland rainforest. The rainforest stretches for more than 575 km2 (222 sq mi) in the Dibrugarh, Tinsukia andCharaideo districts. The forest further spreads over in theTirap andChanglang districts ofArunachal Pradesh. Dehing Patkai National Park harbours the largest stretch of lowland rainforests in India. Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary was declared as Dehing Patkai Elephant Reserve underProject Elephant.[2][3]Dehing-Patkai as a potential wildlife sanctuary was identified in late 1980s during a primate survey as "Upper Dehing Wildlife Sanctuary".[4] Subsequently during a study on white-winged wood duck in early 1990s, it was discovered as a globally important site for this duck and recommended to be upgraded to "Upper Dehing National Park".[5]It was declared a wildlife sanctuary on 13 June 2004. On 13 December 2020, theGovernment of Assam upgraded it into a national park.[citation needed] On 9 June 2021, the Forest Department of Assam officially notified it as a national park.[6]
The climate of the region is mostlytropical with an annual rainfall of more than 4,000 mm (160 in). Monthly precipitation is at least 60 mm.[citation needed]
Being a rainforest, this National Park is very rich in biodiversity. It is an ideal habitat for non-human primates. The species areslow loris,Assamese macaque,stump-tailed macaque,pig-tailed macaque,Rhesus monkey,capped langur andhoolock gibbon.[7] So far, nearly 50mammal species, 47reptile species and 310butterfly species have been recorded. Other noteworthy mammals found in this national park includesChinese pangolin,dhole,Himalayan black bear,Malayan sun bear,crab-eating mongoose,small-toothed palm civet,binturong,jungle cat,leopard cat,Asian golden cat,marbled cat,Bengal tiger,leopard,clouded leopard,Asian elephant,gaur,red serow,sambar,barking deer,Red giant flying squirrel,Malayan porcupine andAsiatic brush-tailed porcupine.[8]
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Dihing Patkai rainforest harbours about 293 bird species, belonging to 174 genera and 51 families. The majority is resident (63.7%), some are winter visitors (23.1% ), and very few are summer visitors (2.5%). About 10.7% are altitudinal migrants, coming mainly from the higher reaches of the western, central and eastern Himalayas. Avifauna includeswhite-cheeked partridge,kalij pheasant,grey peacock pheasant,Oriental darter,lesser adjutant,white-winged wood duck,pied falconet,slender-billed vulture,white-backed vulture,greater spotted eagle,besra,black baza,osprey,pale-capped pigeon,green imperial pigeon,mountain imperial pigeon,red-breasted parakeet,Oriental bay owl,tawny fish owl,great pied hornbill,brown hornbill,wreathed hornbill,yellow-vented warbler,hill myna andscaly thrush.[9][10]
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The different trees of this four-layered rainforest are laden with many exotic species of orchids and bromeliads. There is an abundance offerns,epiphytes,wild banana,orchids,arums, climbers and lianas in this humid forest habitat. Some of the important tree species found in this forest area are –Hollong, Mekai, Dhuna, Uriyam, Nahar, Chamkothal, Bher, Hollock, Nahor, Ou–tenga (elephant apple), different species ofFicus spp. etc. The towering Hollong tree which is also the State Tree of Assam dominates the emergent layer of this rainforest.
The forest type according of Champion and Seth's classification is Upper Assam valley tropical evergreen forest.
The important species of over wood areDipterocarpus macrocarpus,Mesua ferrea,Castanopsis indica,Shorea assamica,Vatica lanceaefolia,Amoora wallichii,Dysoxylum binectiferum etc. The other species found in the understorey areGarcinia lanceifolia,Michelia muni,Baccaurea sapida,Bischofia javanica,Myristica limifolia etc. The shrub and herb layer hasGlochidion spp.,Alpinia spp.,Mallotus philippensis, wild banana,tree fern,pepper etc. The ground cover mainly hasMelastoma,Leea and other species.
The Dihing Patkai Forest region has a rich cultural heritage. There are more than a dozen different ethnic groups living in the area including the indigenousAssamese communities, particularlyTai Phake,Khamyang,Khampti,Singpho,Nocte,Chutia,Ahom,Kaibarta,Moran,Burmese, andNepali people.Tea-tribes were brought by theBritish to work in the tea plantations.[citation needed]
