Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary

Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary (Assamese: লাওখোৱা অভয়াৰণ্য) is a wildlife sanctuary located in the state of Assam in India covering 70.13 km2 (27.08 sq mi) on the south bank of the Brahmaputra River in Nagaon district.[2]

Lawkhuwa Wildlife Sanctuary
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
Sunset in a flood affected zone of Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary
Map showing the location of Lawkhuwa Wildlife Sanctuary
Map showing the location of Lawkhuwa Wildlife Sanctuary
Location of Lawkhuwa Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam, India
Map showing the location of Lawkhuwa Wildlife Sanctuary
Map showing the location of Lawkhuwa Wildlife Sanctuary
Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary (India)
LocationAssam, India
Nearest cityNagaon
Coordinates26°30′24″N 92°42′38″E / 26.50667°N 92.71056°E / 26.50667; 92.71056
Area70.13 sq. km[1]
Established1972[1]
Governing bodyDepartment of Environment & Forests, Assam

It is a part of the Laokhowa-Burachapori eco-system. The sanctuary is an ideal habitat for Indian rhinoceros and Asiatic water buffaloes. Other animals found here are the Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, Indian boar, leopard cat, hog deer. Over 200 species of birds have been recorded in the sanctuary, including migratory birds.[3]

Laokhowa had more than 70 Indian rhinos in early 1980s which were all killed by poachers. In 2016, two rhinos, a mother and her daughter, were reintroduced to the sanctuary from Kaziranga National Park as part of the Indian Rhino Vision 2020 (IRV 2020) program, but both animals died within months due to natural causes.[4]

It is open for tourists from the beginning of November to the end of April.[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b "National Wildlife Database: List of Protected Areas in India" (PDF). Wildlife Institute of India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 September 2011. Retrieved 22 October 2010.
  2. ^ "Department of Environment & Forests (Government of Assam)". Assamforest.in. Archived from the original on 16 May 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  3. ^ "BirdLife Data Zone". datazone.birdlife.org. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  4. ^ https://india.mongabay.com/2019/09/who-killed-the-wandering-rhino-in-assam/ Who killed the wandering rhino in Assam?], mongabay.com, 9 September 2019.
  5. ^ "Laokhowa & Burhachapori Wildlife Sanctuary | Nagaon District | Government Of Assam, India". nagaon.gov.in. Retrieved 14 June 2021.