Tiger Reserves in India

Manas Tiger Reserve

Introduction

Conservation

Census

Management

Forests

» Introduction

Manas Tiger Reserve in Assam was created in 1973 at the time of launch of the Project Tiger in India. The Reserve area falls in six districts, Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, Barpeta, Nalbari, Kamrup and Darrang. Barnadi Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the buffer of the Reserve. Manas is located at the confluence of Indian, Ethiopean and Indo-Chinese realms resulting in the magnificient biodiversity.

It is situated on the northern bank of the Brahmaputra river. There are numerous rivers criss-crossing the Reserve, namely, Sankosh, Saralbangha, Hel, Tanali, Courang, Sidli (Bhor) Aio, Manas, Beki, Pathimari, kaladia, Tihunala, Morapagaldia, Nala, Braalia, Pbornodi and Dhansiri. Waterholes have also been created at Buraburijhar, Makhibaha and Daulabil, in the core area.

The Reserve runs along the Indo-Bhutan international border, with contiguous wildlife habitats in Bhutan. The river Manas flows from the gorges of Bhutan and splits into two major streams as it enters India. The peace and tranquility of the site, Mathanguri, is a gift of nature in its finest form.

While the core-zone, the Manas National Park, is a pristine wildlife habitat, the rest of the Reserve is a collection of eighteen Reserved Forests intertwined with revenue villages. While traversing the Reserve from West to East, one comes across sal forests, both virgin and degraded, moist-deciduous forests, isolated patches of ever-green forests, riverine forests, grasslands of both savannah and terai types, and miscellaneous forests.

Manas habitat provides an excellent abode to the tiger as well as prey species: Hog deer, Sambar, Swamp deer, Asiatic wild buffalo and Gaur. These species migrate freely across the international border.


» Conservation History

Manas Tiger Reserve was created in 1973, with Manas Sanctuary as its core. Manas Sanctuary with an area of 360 sq. km., was created way back in 1928. Prior to declaration of the sanctuary, the area was Reserved Forest (R.F.) called Manas R.F. and North Kamrup R.F. The Raja of Gauripur and the Cooch-Bihar Royal Family were using these areas as a hunting preserve. The sanctuary was later extended by two successive additions in 1951 and 1955 to 391 sq. km. by including the entire North Kamrup R.F. and the Manas R.F. Later the Kahitama R.F., the Kokilabari R.F. and the Panbari R.F. were added and the area was declared as Manas National Park in 1990.


» Census
Tiger population was estimated to be 89 during the 1997 tiger census.


» Forest Types

Sub-Himalayan High Alluvial Semi-Evergreen Forests ,Eastern Valoor Type of Forests ,East Himalayan Moist Mixed Deciduous Forests ,Low Alluvial Savana Woodland ,Assam Valley Semi-Evergreen Alluvial Grasslands .

Major Flora

374 species of dicots and 139 spp. of Monocots are recorded from the Park. The park is an abode for rare plants such as Reinwardia indica, Desmoduim motoruim, Pueroria subspicota, Biden pilore, Exacum teres, Pygmaeoprema herbacea, Chiloschhiosta junifera, Oplismenus megaphyllus, Magnifera sylvetica etc.

Main Species : Shorea robusta, Artocarpus Chaplasha, Bauhinia sps., Bombax ceiba, Careya arborea, Chukrasia tabularis, Dillenia pentagyna, Lagestroemia parviflora, Leea aequata, Leea Crispa, Melastoma malbathricum, Oroxylum indicum, Toona ciliata, Trewia nodiflora, Sterculia villosa, Bischofia javanica, Callicarpa arboarea, Dendrocalamus bamiltonii, Duabanga grandiflora, Holarrhaena antidysentrica, Mallotus phillippensis, Mukuna bracteata, Pouzolzia zeylanica, Syzygium formosum, Terminalia bellarica, Zingibar zecumber, Zizyphus mauritiana etc. and grasses Imperata Cylindrica, Narenga porphyrocoma, Panicum sps., Saccharum arundinaceum, thysanolaena maxima etc.

Major Fauna

Main Species : Capped Langur, golden Langur, Assamese Macaque, Rhesus Macaque, Common Langur, Slow Loris, Royal Bengal Tiger, Black Panther, Leopard Cat, Clouded Leopard, Wild Cat, Golden Cat, Fishing Cat, Large Indian Civet, Small Indian Civet, Common Palm Civet, Himalayan Palm Civet, Binturong, Common Mongoose, Small Indian Mongoose, Dhole, Jackal, Indian Fox, Red Fox, Himalayan Black Bear, Sloth Bear, Smooth Indian Otter, Yellow Throated Materna, Chinese Badger, Yellow bellied Weasel, Common Otter, Indian Pangolin, Bearded Sheathtailed Bat, Fulvous Fruit Bat, Short nosed Fruit Bat, Greater Yellow Bat, Three Stripped Palm Squirrel, Five Stripped Palm Squirrel, Malayan giant squirrel, Bay Bamboo Rat, Little Indian Field Mouse, Indian Porcupine, Asiatic Elephant, The Great Indian One Horned Rhinoceros, The Gaur, the Asiatic Water Buffalo, Sambar, Hog Deer, Barking Deer, Swamp Deer, Spotted Deer, Wild Boar, the Gangetic Dolphin.

Endangered Species : There are 21 recorded endangered species of mammals. These are Capped Langur, golden Langur, Slow Loris, Tiger, Black Panther, Leopard Cat, Clouded Leopard, Golden Cat, Fishing Cat, Bear cat, Sloth Bear, Asian Elephant, Indian Pangolin, one-horned rhinoceros, Asiatic Water Buffalo, Swamp Deer, Particoloured Flying Squirrel, Hispid Hare and Gangetic Dolphin.


» Managements

Practices, Achievements and Shortfalls

The social unrest in Assam for more than a decade has caused a situation in Manas, which demand entirely innovative and cautious management. The fragile law and order situation has effected protection. There had been several cases of killings, encounters, arson and looting, abductions, snatching of arms and wireless equipment. In spite of this, the staff is trying its best to control the situation as much as possible.

Fire is used as a management tool to maintain grasslands. Manas management is collaborating with local activist groups and making concerted efforts to stop deer poaching for consumption during feasts by the rural as well urban people.

There exist wide spread hostility towards Manas among the local people. Such psyche is detrimental to conservation interests. Very few serious attempts have been made to involve the people of the villages in the management of the Tiger Reserve.Workshops were organised in 1996 and 1997 with active participation from the political executive, forest officials, NGOs, and local representatives. But conclusions arrived at in these gatherings are yet to be translated into field action.




Manas Tiger Reserve Reservation Form

* Compulsory Fields * Name: Address: * Country: * Tel No. : (with city & country code) * E-mail: Details of Journey: Duration of Travel in India (Approx.): * Intended Month & Year of Visit: No. of People Travelling: 00 01 02 03 04 05 > 05 Adult      00 01 02 03 04 05 > 05 Children * Preferences / Details of Services Required: