Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary, Guwahati, Assam

Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary, Guwahati, Assam

Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary located on the eastern fringe of Guwahati City in Kamrup Metropolitan District in the Indian State of Assam. The name Amchang is originated from the name of Arleng village named Amcheng (now Amsing) located in the heart of the wildlife sanctuary.

History

The Amchang reserved forest, South Amchang reserved forest and Khanapara reserved forest combined together in 2004 and established as Amchang wildlife sanctuary. It falls under East Kamrup Forest division.

The Wildlife Sanctuary

The sanctuary spreads over an area of about 78.64 square kilometres. The sanctuary comprises of Amchang reserve forest (5,318 ha), South Amchang reserve forest (1,550 ha) and Khanapara reserve forest (996 ha), and a wetland called Khamranga Bheel. The area consists of low hills, which are part of a plateau. The lowest parts are about 50 m, near Khamranga Bheel, while the highest point is 569 m (Parahopa Peak). The best time to visit this wildlife sanctuary is between the months of October to April.

Flora:

The sanctuary is dominated by tropical moist deciduous forest with semi-evergreen forest in depressions and river-valleys. Grass lands are also seen in some areas. Grasses like Giant Reed (Arundo donax) and Neyraudia reynaudiana (Burma Reed) and herbs like Alpinia allughas occur mostly in the depressions. Most of the teak found in the forest are planted by the forest department.

Fauna:

The sanctuary is home to more than 44 species of mammals. The mammals found in the sanctuary are Tiger, Chinese Pangolin, Slow Loris, Flying Fox, Assamese Macaque, Rhesus Macaque, Pig-tailed Macaque, Stump-tailed Macaque, Capped Langur, Hoolock Gibbon, Jungle Cat, Leopard Cat, Leopard, Asian Elephant, Wild Pig, Sambar, Barking Deer, Gaur, Red Serow, Crestless Himalayan Porcupine, Malayan Giant Squirrel, and Civet Cat. The sanctuary is known for its isolated population of Asian elephants and Gaur.

The reptiles found in the sanctuary are Python, Indian cobra, and Monitor Lizard. The sanctuary is home to more than 200 species of birds. The birds found in the sanctuary are Lesser Adjutant stork, Greater Adjutant Stork, White-backed Vulture, Slender Billed Vulture, White-cheeked Hill Partridge, Grey peacock Pheasant, Khaleej Pheasant, Spot-billed Pelican, Green Imperial Pigeon, Lessar Pied Hornbill, Parakeet, Great Pied hornbill, Oriental Pied hornbill, and many others. The Khamranga Bheel is visited by 20,000 migratory waterfowls during the winter.

Connectivity

The wildlife sanctuary is located at about 3 Kms from Narengi Railway Station, 12 Kms from Guwahati Railway Station, 21 Kms from Rupnath Brahma Inter-State Bus Terminal, 32 Kms from Sonapur and 34 Kms from Guwahati Airport. The wildlife sanctuary is situated at about 12 Kms to the east of Guwahati Railway Station. Tourists can enter from Sonapur side also. The road from Narengi through Bonda Forest office is the easiest route to reach this sanctuary.

Location