Explanation:
- Until 1983, this protected region, which is a part of “greater” Kaziranga National Park, had 45-50 rhinos but they were wiped out by the poachers. However, since November 2023, they have been sighted again.
- Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary covers an area of around 70.13 sq km and lies on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra River. It forms an integral part of the Laokhowa-Burachapori eco-system and is a notified buffer of the Kazairanga Tiger reserve.
- The sanctuary is home to the great Indian-one horned rhinoceros, elephants, royal Bengal tigers, Asiatic water buffaloes and more than 225 species of birds.
ABOUT LAOKHOWA-BURACHAPORI WILDLIFE SANCTUARYs :
- The Laokhowa and Burhachapori Wildlife Sanctuaries are two centrally located Protected Areas of Assam, surrounded by many key PAs like Kaziranga National Park to the east, Orang National Park and Pobitora Wildlife sanctuaries to the west, Pakke-Nameri NPs to the north and the rich reserve Forests of Karbi Anglong to the south.
- The PAs act as a connecting corridor for migration of animals between Kaziranga and Orang National parks and hence, has been identified as Buffer Zones of Kaziranga Tiger Reserve.
- The Brahmaputra River flows through the northern boundary of the Burhachapori Wildlife Sanctuaries creating a large number of river islands.
- The rich ecosystem of the Laokhowa Burhachapori characterized by grasslands, woodlands and numerous wetlands along with the Brahmaputra River Islands are home to numerous species of endangered mammals, reptiles and birds.
Rhino census of 2022
According to the rhino census of 2022, Assam has 2,895 rhinos. Kaziranga has 2,613 of them, Orang 125, Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary 107 and Manas National Park 50.