Civil society organisations and conservationists in Assam have urged authorities to declare the Roumari-Donduwa Wetland Complex within Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary as a Ramsar Site, citing its international ecological significance and rich avian biodiversity.

About Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary

• Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Nagaon district of Assam, India, covering an area of approximately 70.13 sq km on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra River.
• It forms an integral part of the Laokhowa-Burachapori eco-system and serves as a notified buffer zone of the Kaziranga Tiger Reserve.
• The sanctuary has a diverse habitat offering refuge to a variety of wildlife, including the great Indian one-horned rhinoceros, elephants, royal Bengal tigers, Asiatic water buffaloes, barking deer, fishing cats, leopard cats, civets, wild pigs, and more.
• Historically, Laokhowa was home to more than 70 Indian rhinoceroses in the early 1980s, but they were wiped out by poaching. Efforts have been made to reintroduce rhinos from Kaziranga National Park.
• Furthermore, it is a habitat for more than 225 bird species, including resident and migratory birds, with notable species such as the endangered Bengal Florican.
• The sanctuary also has a rich variety of fishes, amphibians, and reptiles, making it an ecologically significant protected area.
• Laokhowa, together with Burhachapori Wildlife Sanctuary, acts as a connecting corridor for animal migration between Kaziranga and Orang National Parks, contributing to regional biodiversity conservation and ecological balance.
• The area is not only important for wildlife preservation but also supports local tourism, with the best visiting period being from November to April.
• The sanctuary is accessible by road from Nagaon (about 28 km away) and Guwahati (approximately 148 km), with accommodation available in Nagaon town.
• Conservation initiatives continue to enhance the sanctuary's role as a wildlife paradise and ecological stronghold in Assam.​

Download Pdf