Guwahati: One of the most visited rhino habitat on the globe, Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary located in the Morigaon district of Assam about 45 kilometers away from Guwahati city was thrown open for tourists and wildlife buff for the oncoming tourist season on SAturday by Assam’s forest minister Atuwa Munda.
The wildlife sanctuary which has an area of about 38 square kilometer is home to over 80 one-horned Indian rhinoceros and is considered the highest density rhino habitat in the world.
Pabitora is a money spinner for Assam tourism department after Kaziranga National Park.
Pabitora enjoys close proximity to wll connected bustling city of Guwahati and receives large number of tourists who enjoys the sight of majestic rhinos that frolic in swamps that dot the park.
These marshy lands are considered perfect habitat for the rhinos, wild buffalos and the wild boars which are found aplenty in the sanctuary. The treasure trove of fish species in marshy areas within Pabitora park attract lots of migratory as well as local birds which are feast to eyes of the visitors to the enchanting destination.
One of the road to Panbitora from Guwahati through the National Highway 37 (new 715) is lined with picturesque lush green tea estates that makes the journey a memorable one.
In 1971, Pabitora was declared a reserve forest to protect the rhinos.
In 1987, Pobitara was upgraded to wildlife sanctuary. Pobitora boasts of the highest density of rhinos and sightings of the rare beasts are assured during a visit to the sanctuary.
Animals like the Asiatic buffalos, leopards, wild bear, civet cat, etc. are found in the sanctuary.
The sanctuary is also an ideal for bird watching. It consists of more than 2000 migratory birds. Several resident and migratory birds such as Indian pied horn bill, osprey, hill myna, kalij pheasant, etc. are found in the reserve. Due to its rich birdlife, the sanctuary is also called as the ‘Bharatpur of the East.
The best time to visit the sanctuary is between November and March. Visiting the sanctuary during the monsoon season is not advisable.
