![]() Manas Tiger Reserve has a rich heritage. In the year 1928, a sanctuary was built, covering an area of 360 sq km sanctuary. Once it was the hunting conserve of the royal families of Cooch-Behar and Gauripur. In the year 1973, Project Tiger has been transformed in to a tiger reserve, covering an area of a 2,840 sq km. Almost 500 sq km of the Manas National Park is integrated in the Manas Tiger Reserve. Its ecology too is a mix of variegated landscapes and wide-ranging vegetation, including moist deciduous, evergreen, riverine forests and lush grasslands. It is a homeland of wide varieties of wide range of endangered species, which enabled it to grab the title of being one of the World Heritage Sites. ![]() With in this reserve, Mothanguri, is a conflux of the river Manas entering India from Bhutan, and wild forests, hills copiously scattered with semul trees, beautiful pinkish-red flowers blossoming in the months of February and March. Tourists throng the reserve in great enthusiasm, enjoying the jolly rides on the backs of elephants, jeeps drives and boat trips leading the visitors through beautiful landscape full with natural and dense vegetation. One can even catch hold of quite a few endangered species within the park premises. There are more than fifty species of mammals including the Golden Langur, although very rare, is seen on a regular basis. According to the year 1997 census the total number of tiger is counted as eighty-nine. From the riverside, Asian Water Buffalo glares at trespassing visitors, their horns are longer and broader than any other places in Indian subcontinent. Gharials are a long-snorted crocodiles, basking nearby in the sun. Huge mammals can also be seen including Gaur, Hog-deer, otters, giant squirrels and various monkeys. The One-horned Rhinoceros is occasionally seen in Manas Tiger Reserve. Tiger, Leopard, Clouded Leopard, Golden Cat, Leopard-cat, Asian Elephant, Asian Water Buffalo, Gaur (Indian Bison), Swamp Deer (Barasingha), Hog-deer, Pygmy Hog, Capped Langur, Assamese Macaque, Slow Loris, Hispid Hare, Fishing Cat, Marbled Cat, Binturong, Spotted Linsang, Large Indian Civet, Wild Dog (Dhole), Malayan Giant Squirrel, Parti-coloured Flying Squirrel, Crab-eating Mongoose are also worth to mention. ![]() Birds, namely Swamp Francolin, Red Junglefowl, Kahj Pheasant, Grey Peacock Pheasant, Great Hornbill, Wreathed Hornbill, Great Slaty Woodpecker, Red-headed Trogon, Long-tailed Broadbill, Dollarbird, Green Imperial Pigeon, Barred Cuckoo-dove, Crow-billed Drongo, Blue-bearded Bee-eater, Coral-billed Scimitar Babbler, Rufous-vented Laughing thrush, Streaked Spiderhunter, Ruby-cheeked Sunbird, throng in woodlands and also in the grassy fringes. Bird's raptors too are found and they are no less in numbers. Theses are namely Pallas's Fish Eagle, Bengal Florican (a type of bird bustard), Lesser Fish Eagle, Osprcy, Black Baza, Collared Falconet, Pied Harrier, Rufous-bellied Eagle, Crested Goshawk, and Brown Fish Owl etc. However, due to the rapid growth of various problems, such as expanding tea plantations, poaching, developmental projects etc, have actually exploited the wild resources, thus putting a threat to one of India's significant wildlife reserves. (Last Updated on : 01-07-2013) |
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