Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary

SANCTUARY Pobitora, 35 km east of Guwahati, is a small wildlife sanctuary in Assam in india concentration of the Great One Horned Rhinoceros in The natural boundary of the sanctuary is the Garanga Beel on the South and Brahmaputra on the North. An hour long drive from Guwahati the river Brahmaputra, passing through the village of Mayong, is an exhilarating er visitors. Because of Pobitora proximity, to Guwahati one a a to make a day visit to and from Guwahati and explore the sanctuary elephant back or stay overnight. Risa mini replica of Kaziranga and is often referred to as the Kaziranga National Park's showroom. It is ideal for visitors who have little time to spare may not be able to visit Kaziranga.

HISTORY
Pobitora was originally a grazing reserve of the erstwhile Nagaon district of Assam in the flood plains of the river Brahmaputra. It came into the limelight during the year 1961-62 when the one-horned rhino was first sighted in this area Pobitora, comprising of the flat flood plains and the hillock of Raja Mayong was thereafter declared a Reserved Forest in 1971 and a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1987. The transformation of this grazing reserve into an ideal rhino habitat is remarkable. is now one of the major wildlife sanctuaries of Assam and is famous mainly for its great Indian one-horned rhinoceros.

FLORA AND FAUNA
Pobitora comprises of Assam alluvial grasslands with the hilly forests of the Raja Mayong The riverine composition of the forest with vast stretches of grassland is the ideal habitat for the Indian one-horned rhino (Rhinoceros Unicornis). However, though the total area of the sanctuary comprises of 38.81 square km, only 16 square km of this is suitable for rhino habitat. Yet Pobitora is known for having the world's largest concentration of rhinos (93 as per the 2012 census).

Pobitora is also home to other animals like the Asiatic buffalo, leopard, Wild bear, wild boar, Chinese pangolins, civet cats, etc. Pobitora is a bird-watchers paradise, as both migratory and resident birds can be sighted here. A census done in January 2012 states that there are twenty six species birds at Pobitora. There are approximately 7000 resident birds and approximately 5000 migratory birds. The Sanctuary is home to two critically endangered, four endangered, eight vulnerable and three near vulnerable threatened bird species. The Marsh Babbler (Pellorneum Palustre), an endemic bird species of Assam, has been recorded in this Sanctuary. On the other hand, the beels' or water bodies attract a large number of water fowls. The perennial water bodies (beels) are the breeding places of different variety of fishes. The Rajamayong Hill, which forms a part of this Sanctuary, also harbours various species of animals like leopards, Lesser cats,barking deer etc.