Dibru-Saikhowa Wildlife Sanctuary is a national park in Assam, India, located in Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts. It was designated a Biosphere Reserve in 1997 with an area of 765 km2, including a core area of 340 km2 and a buffer zone of 425 km2 .
The park located about 12 km north of Tinsukia town a is bound by Brahmaputra and Lohit Rivers in the north and Dibru river in the south. It mainly consists of moist mixed semi-evergreen forests, moist mixed deciduous forests, canebrakes and grasslands. It is the largest salix swamp forest in north-eastern India, with a tropical monsoon climate with a hot and wet summer and cool and usually dry winter.
One of the 19 biodiversity hotspots in the world. the park is home to many endangered species of animals. Originally created to help conserve the habitat of the rare white-winged wood duck, the park is also home to other rare creatures such as water buffalo, black-breasted parrotbill, tiger and capped langur. The park also has some eco lodges to stay that need to be pre booked for accommodation.
The forest of Dibru-Saikhowa consists of semi-evergreen forests, deciduous, littoral and swamp forests and patches of wet evergreen forests. The national park is divided in seven parts of the park, one is a wetland and the rest is about 35.84% moist mixed forest, 9.50% degraded forest and 21.25% grassland. Till date 36 species of mammals, 502 species of birds, 104 species of fish, 43 species of reptiles, 105 species of butterflies and 680 species of plants have been recorded here.
Moreover, 25 per cent of India’s threatened bird species have been found. The park is home to Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, clouded leopard, jungle cat, sloth bear, dhole, small Indian civet, Malayan giant squirrel, Chinese pangolin, Gangetic dolphin, slow loris, monitor lizard, eight turtle species and eight snake.
The park is a birdwatchers paradise and is home to numerous variety of indigenous and migratory birds species such as greater adjutant, ferruginous pochard, Jerdon’s babbler, black-breasted parrotbill, marsh babbler, puff-throated babbler, Jerdon’s bushchat, rufous-rumped grassbird, chestnut-crowned bush warbler, lesser adjutant,
An identified Important Bird Area (IBA), it is most famous for the rare white-winged wood ducks. Well connected by rail, road and air, the park is also home to nearly 50 feral horses, which can be spotted in the northern part of the park at the Churkey Chapori area. These horses are believed to have descended from the animals that escaped from the army camps during World War II. Dibru Saikhowa is accessible round the year.
Although the best time to visit this park is during the late winter and till the monsoon period of November to April, the park may sometimes close due to heavy rain, without any prior notice. Therefore, it is advisable to check with the authorities and tourist guides before planning a trip here.
There are no roads and hence no jungle safari or elephant or jeep safaris in Dibru Saikhowa National Park and visitors have to hire a local houseboat hat double up as place to stay to explore the park. A visit to the park is a mesmerizing experience for nature lover and birdwatchers.
