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India.com
an hour ago
- India.com
Top 5 National Parks Near Guwahati For Unforgettable Wildlife Safaris
As the northeastern access point of India Guwahati operates as a thriving urban center while serving as a sanctuary for natural wildlife explorers. The breathtaking national parks within the region are accessible for visitors to Guwahati because this city is surrounded by lush green spaces and rolling countryside and clean rivers flowing through it. All these natural sanctuaries support a wide selection of plant and animal species which attracts wildlife safari tourists. This guide presents a thorough explanation of the best national parks located near Guwahati which visitors should experience. 1. Kaziranga National Park: A UNESCO World Heritage Site The famous Indian wildlife sanctuary known as Kaziranga National Park exists at roughly 200 kilometers east of Guwahati. The Great One-Horned Rhinoceros population in this park exceeds up to two-thirds of the global count and makes it a major attraction. Kaziranga National Park occupies 430 square kilometers of land where residents find tigers alongside numerous other species including elephants and wild water buffaloes as well as the swamp deer. Visitors to Kaziranga can enjoy jeep safaris together with elephant-back rides through its park (while elephant rides require advance booking). Tourists can explore the four separate park ranges of Kohora and Bagori and Agaratoli and Burapahar since each of them presents distinctive ecological environments and wildlife observation opportunities. The most advantageous period to explore Kaziranga National Park runs from November through April because of its pleasant weather and improved animal visibility at water points. 2. Manas National Park: A Biosphere Reserve Manas National Park spans 175 kilometers west of Guwati while holding its position as a precious treasure of Assam. This natural site extends across 950 square kilometers to form a Biosphere Reserve and UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site that borders between India and Bhutan. The park derives its name from the Manas River which runs along its boundaries while its unique fauna includes vulnerable creatures such as Bengal tigers along with Indian elephants and golden langurs and pygmy hogs. Encounters within Nameri National Park include exhilarating jeep safaris together with guided walking excursions that bring forest guides revealing essential information about the environmental setting. Bird lookers will love visiting Manas because its extensive bird list consists of 450 species among which the Bengal florican stands as a unique species. The winter season from November through February presents the most opportune time to visit because it offers milder climate along with clearer atmospheric conditions. 3. Nameri National Park: A Paradise for Nature Lovers Located about 35 kilometers from Tezpur district and roughly 160 kilometers from Guwahati city exists Nameri National Park which serves as an eco-tourism sanctuary. Located at 200 square kilometers wide, the park borders Arunachal Pradesh and falls within the Eastern Himalayan biodiversity hotspot. Nameri attracts visitors because it offers thick forests alongside flowing river paths alongside numerous bird species. The main attraction in Nameri lets visitors raft the Jia Bharali River which provides the chance to witness aquatic creatures together with picturesque landscape views. The park houses leopard and sambar deer and barking deer in addition to elephant populations alongside different bird species including white-winged wood duck and hornbills. Adventure seekers find Nameri perfect because it has guided treks combined with camping facilities. 4. Orang National Park: Mini Kaziranga The attraction of Orang National Park receives its 'Mini Kaziranga' nickname because it exists near the northern end of the Brahmaputra River at a distance of 140 kilometers from Guwahati. Due to its smaller span of 78 square kilometers the park remains as mesmerizing as Kaziranga National Park. The area functions as an essential dwelling ground for Great One-Horned Rhinoceroses and elephants together with several species of migratory birds. Visitors at Orang can experience a distinct view of park animals through Brahmaputra River boat tours. Safari visitors might see hog deer alongside civets and otters because of these animals residing in the area. Visitors can experience the park during the November to April dry season because this period attracts animals toward water sources. 5. Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary: High Density of Rhinos Set within 38 square kilometers east of Guwahati lies Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary which exists as a remarkable small wildlife sanctuary. Pobitora maintains the highest concentration of rhinoceros density in the world at one square kilometer. Besides the rhino population the sanctuary provides shelter to leopards alongside wild boars and many bird species. Tourists at Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary can ride elephants or use jeeps to observe wildlife directly through safari excursions. Visitors can easily visit Pobitora from Guwahati since it is located nearby. The optimal period to visit Pobitora runs from November through March due to limited vegetation which improves chances of spotting animals. Conclusion Visitors who explore the national parks and wildlife sanctuaries near Guwahati can experience one of the most impressive natural wonders in Northeast India. The safari lovers can enjoy unforgettable wildlife experiences by discovering rhinos at Kaziranga as well as watching tigers at Manas and observing the peaceful scene at Nameri. The parks accommodate wildlife lovers of all skill levels together with peaceful travelers who want to relax in quiet locations. Your trip planning should be strategic while you respect nature and treasure seeing magnificent wildlife species live in their habitats.
Mint
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Mint
‘What has Abhimanyu Easwaran done wrong?': Fans ask after Sai Sudharsan makes India debut during IND vs ENG 1st Test
Abhimanyu Easwaran's much-anticipated Test debut got extended after the Bengal batter was once again overlooked as India handed Sai Sudharsan his maiden cap on Friday against England in the first Test at Headingly in Leeds. The Tamil Nadu batter was handed his maiden Test cap by veteran Cheteshwar Pujara. The 29-year-old Bengal batter, who has been a prolific run-getter in domestic circuit, has bene travelling with the Indian team since 2022, but is yet to make his place in the starting XI. The right-hander was in terrific form last season as he piled up runs in the Duleep Trophy, Irani Trophy and the Ranji Trophy for Bengal, which included a double hundred and five centuries. Despite that, Easwaran's omission left the fans amazed. 'What has Abhimanyu Easwaran done wrong? So conveniently he gets overlooked for an inexperienced Sai Sudharsan. Think IPL form > domestic performance?' wrote one user on X. 'No disrespect to Sai Sudharshan, he is a good batsman but Abhimanyu Easwaran deserved a debut. How long will you keep him in the touring party and not hand him a Test cap? Abhimanyu is far more experienced,' another user pisted. Having been made the captain of the India A side against England Lions, Easwaran had a good outing in both the unofficial Tests. While he scored a 68 in the first game while opening the batting, Easwaran scored 80 in the second game after being dropped to no.3 spot. On the other hand, Sudharsan's Test debut comes after his Orange Cap finish in the recently-concluded Indian Premier League. India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill(c), Rishabh Pant(w), Karun Nair, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes(c), Jamie Smith(w), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir
Straits Times
11 hours ago
- General
- Straits Times
Thailand credits prey releases for ‘extraordinary' tiger recovery
The wild tiger population in Thailand's Western Forest Complex has increased almost fivefold, from about 40 in 2007 to between 179 and 223 in 2024. PHOTO: AFP KAMPHAENG PHET, Thailand - In the thick, steamy forests of western Thailand, 20 skittish sambar deer dart from an enclosure into the undergrowth – unaware they may find themselves in the jaws of one of the habitat's 200 or so endangered tigers. The release is part of a project run by the government and conservation group WWF to provide tigers with prey to hunt and eat, which has helped the big cat make a remarkable recovery in Thailand. The wild tiger population in Thailand's Western Forest Complex, near the border with Myanmar, has increased almost fivefold in the last 15 years from about 40 in 2007 to between 179 and 223 in 2024, according to the kingdom's Department of National Parks (DNP). It is an uptick that WWF's Tigers Alive initiative leader Stuart Chapman calls 'extraordinary', especially as no other country in South-east Asia has seen tiger numbers pick up at all. The DNP and the WWF have been breeding sambar, which are native to Thailand but classed as vulnerable, and releasing them as prey. Now in its fifth year, the prey release is a 'very good activity,' says the DNP's Chaiya Danpho, as it addresses the ecosystem's lack of large ungulates for tigers to eat. Mr Worrapan Phumanee, a research manager for WWF Thailand, says that deer were previously scarce in the area, impacting the tiger population. But 'since starting the project, we've seen tigers become regular residents here and successfully breed,' he says. Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam have all lost their native populations of Indochinese tigers, while Myanmar is thought to have just 23 left in the wild, in large part due to poaching and wildlife trafficking. Over the past century, numbers worldwide have fallen from about 100,000 individuals to an estimated 5,500, according to the IUCN, which classifies tigers as endangered due to habitat loss and overhunting of the species and their natural prey. But major tiger recoveries have been recorded in India and Nepal, where in recent years numbers of Bengal tigers have grown to 3,600 and 355 respectively thanks to conservation measures. Sambar deer in an enclosure before being released as part of a joint operation between the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) and World Wildlife Fund (WWF). PHOTO: AFP 'Incredibly successful' In a forest clearing in Khlong Lan National Park, DNP staff open the gate of the sambar deer enclosure where 10 males and 10 females have been grazing. The deer watch cautiously as one brave individual darts out, before the rest follow at speed and disappear into the trees. Mr Worrapan says prey release programmes – now also happening in Cambodia and Malaysia – are part of wider restoration efforts to 'rebuild ecosystems' in South-east Asia, where they have been adapted for local purposes from similar initiatives that have existed for years in Africa. The breeding and releases also aim to solve the problem of the sambar deer's own population decline due to hunting, says Mr Worrapan. 'The purpose of releasing deer is not solely to serve as tiger prey but also to restore the deer population,' he says, adding that GPS collar-monitoring has allowed researchers to track their lives after release. He says despite having only known captivity, the deer show a strong ability to adapt to outside threats. '(They) don't simply wait passively. They try to evade predators and choose safe areas to thrive.' Mr Chaiya says only a small number of the released deer end up as predator dinner, with most going on to reproduce. The sambar deer and their offspring 'play a role in the food chain within the ecosystem, serving as prey for predators,' he says. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Int'l Business Times
11 hours ago
- General
- Int'l Business Times
Thailand Credits Prey Releases For 'Extraordinary' Tiger Recovery
In the thick, steamy forests of western Thailand, 20 skittish sambar deer dart from an enclosure into the undergrowth -- unaware they may find themselves in the jaws of one of the habitat's 200 or so endangered tigers. The release is part of a project run by the government and conservation group WWF to provide tigers with prey to hunt and eat, which has helped the big cat make a remarkable recovery in Thailand. The wild tiger population in Thailand's Western Forest Complex, near the border with Myanmar, has increased almost fivefold in the last 15 years from about 40 in 2007 to between 179 and 223 last year, according to the kingdom's Department of National Parks (DNP). It is an uptick that WWF's Tigers Alive initiative leader Stuart Chapman calls "extraordinary", especially as no other country in Southeast Asia has seen tiger numbers pick up at all. The DNP and the WWF have been breeding sambar, which are native to Thailand but classed as vulnerable, and releasing them as prey. Now in its fifth year, the prey release is a "very good activity," says the DNP's Chaiya Danpho, as it addresses the ecosystem's lack of large ungulates for tigers to eat. Worrapan Phumanee, a research manager for WWF Thailand, says that deer were previously scarce in the area, impacting the tiger population. But "since starting the project, we've seen tigers become regular residents here and successfully breed," he says. Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam have all lost their native populations of Indochinese tigers, while Myanmar is thought to have just 23 left in the wild, in large part due to poaching and wildlife trafficking. Over the past century numbers worldwide have fallen from about 100,000 individuals to an estimated 5,500, according to the IUCN, which classifies tigers as endangered due to habitat loss and overhunting of the species and their natural prey. But major tiger recoveries have been recorded in India and Nepal, where in recent years numbers of Bengal tigers have grown to 3,600 and 355 respectively thanks to conservation measures. In a forest clearing in Khlong Lan National Park, DNP staff open the gate of the sambar deer enclosure where 10 males and 10 females have been grazing. The deer watch cautiously as one brave individual darts out, before the rest follow at speed and disappear into the trees. Worrapan says prey release programmes -- now also happening in Cambodia and Malaysia -- are part of wider restoration efforts to "rebuild ecosystems" in Southeast Asia, where they have been adapted for local purposes from similar initiatives that have existed for years in Africa. The breeding and releases also aim to solve the problem of the sambar deer's own population decline due to hunting, says Worrapan. "The purpose of releasing deer is not solely to serve as tiger prey but also to restore the deer population," he says, adding that GPS collar-monitoring has allowed researchers to track their lives after release. He says despite having only known captivity, the deer show a strong ability to adapt to outside threats. "(They) don't simply wait passively. They try to evade predators and choose safe areas to thrive." Chaiya says only a small number of the released deer end up as predator dinner, with most going on to reproduce. The sambar deer and their offspring "play a role in the food chain within the ecosystem, serving as prey for predators," he says. Release of the deer is credited with helping the 'extraordinary' recovery in Thailand's tiger population, which has increased almost fivefold in the last 15 years AFP The breeding and releases also aim to solve the problem of the sambar deer's own population decline due to hunting AFP While some of the deer are killed and eaten by tigers, most of them go on to reproduce AFP
France 24
11 hours ago
- General
- France 24
Thailand credits prey releases for 'extraordinary' tiger recovery
The release is part of a project run by the government and conservation group WWF to provide tigers with prey to hunt and eat, which has helped the big cat make a remarkable recovery in Thailand. The wild tiger population in Thailand's Western Forest Complex, near the border with Myanmar, has increased almost fivefold in the last 15 years from about 40 in 2007 to between 179 and 223 last year, according to the kingdom's Department of National Parks (DNP). It is an uptick that WWF's Tigers Alive initiative leader Stuart Chapman calls "extraordinary", especially as no other country in Southeast Asia has seen tiger numbers pick up at all. The DNP and the WWF have been breeding sambar, which are native to Thailand but classed as vulnerable, and releasing them as prey. Now in its fifth year, the prey release is a "very good activity," says the DNP's Chaiya Danpho, as it addresses the ecosystem's lack of large ungulates for tigers to eat. Worrapan Phumanee, a research manager for WWF Thailand, says that deer were previously scarce in the area, impacting the tiger population. But "since starting the project, we've seen tigers become regular residents here and successfully breed," he says. Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam have all lost their native populations of Indochinese tigers, while Myanmar is thought to have just 23 left in the wild, in large part due to poaching and wildlife trafficking. Over the past century numbers worldwide have fallen from about 100,000 individuals to an estimated 5,500, according to the IUCN, which classifies tigers as endangered due to habitat loss and overhunting of the species and their natural prey. But major tiger recoveries have been recorded in India and Nepal, where in recent years numbers of Bengal tigers have grown to 3,600 and 355 respectively thanks to conservation measures. 'Incredibly successful' In a forest clearing in Khlong Lan National Park, DNP staff open the gate of the sambar deer enclosure where 10 males and 10 females have been grazing. The deer watch cautiously as one brave individual darts out, before the rest follow at speed and disappear into the trees. Worrapan says prey release programmes -- now also happening in Cambodia and Malaysia -- are part of wider restoration efforts to "rebuild ecosystems" in Southeast Asia, where they have been adapted for local purposes from similar initiatives that have existed for years in Africa. The breeding and releases also aim to solve the problem of the sambar deer's own population decline due to hunting, says Worrapan. "The purpose of releasing deer is not solely to serve as tiger prey but also to restore the deer population," he says, adding that GPS collar-monitoring has allowed researchers to track their lives after release. He says despite having only known captivity, the deer show a strong ability to adapt to outside threats. "(They) don't simply wait passively. They try to evade predators and choose safe areas to thrive." Chaiya says only a small number of the released deer end up as predator dinner, with most going on to reproduce. The sambar deer and their offspring "play a role in the food chain within the ecosystem, serving as prey for predators," he says.
