POBITORA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: The Assam government has established a committee to redraw the boundary of the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary.

Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary

• About: It is a wildlife sanctuary on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra in Morigaon district in Assam, India
• Location: Situated in the Guwahati, it stands as a beacon of successful conservation efforts, particularly in protecting the habitat of the Rhino.
• Rich Biodiversity: Comprising the Rajamayong Reserve Forest and Pobitora Reserve Forest, it shelters diverse wildlife such as Leopard, Capped Langur, Porcupine, Pangolin, among others.
• Global Significance: Renowned for its high concentration of one-horned rhinos worldwide, it covers an area of 38.81 sq km and was officially declared a sanctuary by the Assam forest department in 1998.
• Population Census: Recent census data from 2022 indicates a thriving population of 107 rhinos, affirming its status as the world's highest density habitat for this species.
• Conservation Contribution: Pobitora plays a crucial role in conservation efforts, acting as a source population for initiatives like the Indian Rhinoceros Vision 2020 (IRV), with eight rhinos translocated from here to Manas National Park.