Assam Government has notified Dihing Patkai as a National Park which was the last remaining stretches of the Assam Valley tropical wet evergreen forests.
Key points:
=> This notification comes four days after creating 422-sq. km Raimona National Park in Kokrajhar district of Assam.
=> Assam now has the third most National Parks (7) in India.
=> Madhya Pradesh with 12 national parks maintains the top slot and it is followed by Andaman & Nicobar Islands having 9 national parks.
National Parks in Assam:
=> Assam has five older National Parks including-
- Kaziranga National Park
- Manas National Park
- Nameri National Park
- Orang National Park
- Dibru-Saikhowa National Park
Among them, Kaziranga & Manas are UNESCO World Heritage Sites and tiger reserves. Nameri and Orang are also designated tiger reserves.
About Dihing Patkai:
Dihing Patkai is a 234.26-sq. km stretch covering Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts of Assam. It is a major elephant habitat. It has recorded 310 species of butterflies. Park also comprise of 47 species of reptiles & mammals, including tiger and clouded leopard. It will be administered by Soraipung Range of Digboi Forest Division & Jeypore Range of Dibrugarh Forest Division.
Why Dihing patkai was in focus?
Dihing Patkai was in focus for illegal coal mining in its vicinity comprising of erstwhile Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary, Jeypore Reserve Forest and western block of Upper Dihing Reserve Forest.