Pani-Dihing Bird Sanctuary (Assamese: পানী দিহিং অভয়াৰণ্য) is a 33.93-square-kilometre (13.10 sq mi) bird sanctuary located in Sivasagar district, Assam. It is 22 km (14 mi) away from Sivasagar town.[2] This protected area was established as a Bird Sanctuary in August 1996 by the Government of Assam.[3] It was identified as a potential bird sanctuary in late 1980s. The first systematic ornithological surveys in the area was conducted by noted conservationist Dr Anwaruddin Choudhury in 1987-88.[4] Pani-Dihing is a complex of grassland and wetland. Some of the wetlands including channels or beels include Tokia, Jarjaria, Boloma, Dighali, Singorajan, Sagunpora, Kandhulijan, Fulai and Gaiguma. A detailed background of Pani-Dihing has also been published.[5] Pani-Dihing and adjacent areas is on the global map being an Important Bird & Biodiversity Area [6]
| Pani-Dihing Bird Sanctuary | |
|---|---|
  Location of Pani-Dihing Bird Sanctuary in Assam | |
| Location | Sivasagar district, Assam, India |
| Nearest city | Sivasagar |
| Coordinates | 27°7′19″N 94°35′47″E / 27.12194°N 94.59639°E[1] |
| Area | 33.93 km2 (13.10 sq mi) |
| Established | 1996 |
| Governing body | Department of Environment & Forests, Assam |
Climate
editThe climate of the area is tropical monsoon and annual temperature ranges between 7-38 degree Celsius annually. Annual rainfall is approximately 2400–3200 mm with a relative humidity of 65-85 %.[citation needed]
Rivers
editThe sanctuary is bordered by the Brahmaputra and the Disang rivers in the north west and south respectively.[3]
Fauna
editAs many as 267 species of birds including 70 species of migratory birds have been identified and recorded at Pani Dihing.[7] Some notable birds seen here are bar-headed goose, greylag goose, Indian spot-billed duck, mallard, gadwall, wigeon, garganey, shoveller, red-crested pochard, common pochard, ferruginous duck, greater adjutant stork, lesser adjutant stork, open-bill stork, white-necked stork, glossy ibis, grey plover, Himalayan griffon and white-rumped vulture[8] Assam's first record of bank myna was from Pani-Dihing.[9] Among mammals, there were past records of great Indian one-horned rhinoceros and tiger. Wild elephants, hog deer, rhesus monkey and otters[10]
Threats
editAlthough an important birding area supporting a very large population of birds, Pani-Dihing has suffered on account of poaching, grazing of cattle and fishing within the sanctuary premises.[7][11]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Pani-Dihing Bird Sanctuary". Wikimapia.org. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
- ^ "Department of Environment & Forests (Government of Assam)". online.assam.gov.in. Archived from the original on 8 July 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
- ^ a b "Panidihing–A Paradise of Birds North east diary". Yojana. August 2013. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
- ^ "Choudhury, A.U. (1988). Some rare ornithological records from Sibsagar, Assam". Cheetal 29(2): 3–9.
- ^ Choudhury, A.U. (2003). My days in Pani-Dihing and other Sivasagar wetlands. Pakhitirtha (Souvenir- Bird Festival). Pp. 14–18
- ^ Rahmani et al. (2016) Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas of India. Vol. I. Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai and BirdLife International (UK)
- ^ a b "Plan to rid reserve of cattle, poachers". The Telegraph. 28 September 2010. Archived from the original on 5 October 2010. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
- ^ "Choudhury, A.U. 1991. Bird observations from Sibsagar district, Assam, India". Forktail. 6: 35–42.
- ^ Choudhury, A.U. (2000). The birds of Assam. Gibbon Books & WWF-India, Guwahati. Pp. 240.
- ^ Choudhury, A.U. (2013). The mammals of North East India. Gibbon Books & Rhino Foundation with support from COA, Taiwan. Pp. 432.
- ^ "Beastly tales from Panidihing - Poachers, villagers poison birds in Sivasagar sanctuary for meat". The Telegraph. 6 November 2002. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
External links
edit- Pani Dihing Wildlife Sanctuary at assaminfo.com.
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