Dibru-Saikhowa National Park

Dibru-Saikhowa National Park : Recently, Dibru-Saikhowa National Park is facing threats to its feral horses and wildlife due to annual floods submerging large areas of the park.

• About Dibru-Saikhowa National Park : Located on the south bank of the Brahmaputra River, eastern Assam, and bordered by the Brahmaputra and Lohit Rivers to the north and Dibru River to the south.

o Vegetation: Moist mixed forests, largest salix swamp in northeastern India, with a tropical monsoon climate.

o Flora: Includes Dillenia indica, Bischofia javanica, Bombax ceiba, and Lagerstroemia parviflora.

o Fauna:Tiger, elephant, leopard, jungle cat, bears, small Indian civet, squirrels, gangetic dolphin, slow loris, Assamese macaque, etc.

o Birdlife: Recognized as an Important Bird Area (IBA).Over 382 bird species, including Greater Adjutant Stork, Lesser Adjutant Stork, and Greater Crested Grebe.

• About Feral horses :These horses have thrived in the wild for nearly 80 years, believed to be descendants of World War II war horses or the endangered Przewalski’s horse from China .

o IUCN status: Endangered

o Not legally recognized as wild animals under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

o They inhabit open grasslands, forests, and woodlands, typically within 5–6 km of water sources.

o They are not true wild horses; the only recognized wild horse species is the Takhi.

o Australia has the largest population .