Pobitora is a wildlife sanctuary on the southern bank of the #Brahmaputra river in Morigaon district in #Assam, India. It was declared a sanctuary in 1987 providing grassland and wetland habitat for the Indian rhinoceros. Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary’s grassland vegetation consists of at least 15 varieties of grass.
The grasslands provide an excellent habitat and food source for the #wildanimals including the one horned Indian #rhinoceros, which allows Pobitora to host Assam’s second largest #rhino population. the sanctuary is home to numerous other animals including golden jackal, wild boar, wild water buffalo, barking deer, Indian leopard and rhesus macaque.
The sanctuary is a bird watchers paradise and is home for more than 2000 migratory birds like hornbills and various reptiles, including Pobitora is widely acclaimed for being a home to amphibians and reptiles too. Around 9 species of amphibians and 27 species of reptiles grace the sanctuary. From housing monitor lizards to Indian Cobra and python in general. as well as the Gangetic #Dolphin.
Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, is relatively unexplored, compared to some of the well-known wildlife destinations of the state.it has exceeded its rhino-bearing capacity and is overpopulated with most around village of Mayong. The animals have begun moving outside the sanctuary in search of food, and chances of serious man-animal conflict are quite rife. Besides, the straying animals carry the risk of contracting diseases that afflict domestic animals.
Under the Indian Rhino Vision 2020 in a joint programme of the Department of Environment & Forests, Govt of Assam, WWF India, the International Rhino Foundation and US fish & wildlife service, 6 rhinos were translocated from Pobitora and re-introduced into the Manas National Park.
The best time to visit Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary just 45 km away from #Guwahati is from November to February with Guwahati acting a rail, road and air link. There are numerous places worth visiting inside the sanctuary including the Haduk Hanging bridge over Garanga Beel (pond). #tourist visiting the sanctuary can enjoy #elephant rides and jeep #safaris. The village of Mayong is famous since ancient times when it was the Capital of Magic of India. Tourist visiting Mayong can tour the Mayong Central Museum and Emporium, to take a look at the numerous archaeological relics and artifacts, including books on black magic and Ayurveda.
Tourists can also enjoy nature trek for about 2-3 hours in the un-spoilt forest of the hills for #birdwatching especially Oriental Pied Hornbill. Tourists can also enjoy s country boat ride on Brahmaputra to look for Gangetic river dolphins. Also, worth visiting is the little sleepy hamlet named Sonoka. The marshy lands of the sanctuary serve as a wintering ground for numerous migratory birds, their season starts at the end of October and lasts till March, and attracts a lot of birdwatchers and ornithologists from all around the world during the season. There are quite a few eco-resorts near Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary. They offer affordable accommodation with basic amenities. A visit to Pobitora is surely going to be rewarding for all environmentalists and nature lovers.
