Barnadi Wildlife Sanctuary: Assam

Why in news ?

Recently, the World Wide Fund for Nature-India (WWF) found a few tigers inhabiting the Barnadi Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam.

• It is one of the smallest WS (Wildlife Sanctuary) of Assam and covers an area of 26.22 sq. km.

Location:

• Barnadi Wildlife Sanctuary (BWS) is located in northern Assam’s Baksa and Udalguri districts bordering Bhutan.
• The Sanctuary is bordered by the Barnadi River and Nalapara river to the west and east respectively.

Legal Status:

• It was affirmed as the WS in 1980 by the Government of Assam.
• Barnadi was established specifically to protect the Pygmy Hog (Sus salvanius) and Hispid Hare (Caprolagus hispidus).

Biodiversity:

• This is important for threatened species such as the Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus), Tiger (Panthera tigris) and Gaur Bos frontalis.
• About 60% of the BWS is reported to be grassland; most of it is now grassy woodland.
• The main Forest types are Tropical Moist Deciduous along the northern edge of the Sanctuary, and mixed scrub and grassland in the southern part with few trees.