GUWAHATI
One of Assam’s richest birding sites has reopened after 16 years.
The Panbari Reserve Forest, a part of the 1,302 sq. km Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, is home to more than 300 species of birds, several species of butterflies, and arboreal mammals.
A hill forest with tropical evergreen and semi-evergreen trees, Panbari boasts of the tallest birding machan in the northeast comprising eight States. However, the reserve forest was closed for birdwatching in 2009 because of accessibility and other unspecified factors.
A bid to reopen the forest for birdwatchers and wildlife enthusiasts in 2022 was nipped in the bud.
“We reopened Panbari on February 2 after completing an 8 km safari route. We are promoting responsible tourism there,” Kaziranga’s Field Director Sonali Ghosh said.
A bird from the Panbari Reserve Forest | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Located across the highway along the southern boundary of Kaziranga National Park’s core area, Panbari is known for its diverse flora and fauna. Among the birds found here are the Asian fairy-bluebird (Irena puella), great Indian hornbill (Buceros bicornis), Jerdon’s baza (Aviceda jerdoni), black baza (Aviceda leuphotes), pied falconet (Microhierax melanoleucos), ruby-cheeked sunbird (Chalcoparia singalensis), sultan tit (Melanochlora sultanea), white-throated bulbul (Alophoixus flaveolus), black-naped monarch (Hypothymis azurea), and blue-naped pitta (Hydrornis nipalensis)
Apart from more than 400 species of butterflies, the residents of the forest include the eastern hoolock gibbon (Hoolock leuconedys), capped langur (Presbytis pileatus), Assam macaque (Macaca assamensis), Indian elephant (Elephas maximus), Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris), sambar (Cervus unicolor), barking deer (Muntiacus muntjak), Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla), clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), common leopard (Panthera pardus), Indian porcupine (Hystrix indica), large Indian civet (Viverra zibetha), and small Indian civet (Viverricula indica).
“In response to the growing demand for birding experiences, Panbari has made significant upgrades to improve the overall visitor experience. The introduction of specialised birding hides over machans provides visitors with unobtrusive viewing opportunities that allow for a closer look at the avian inhabitants in their natural habitat,” Ms. Ghosh said.
“These strategically placed hides will enhance the birdwatching experience, enabling enthusiasts to capture stunning photographs and witness the beauty of these birds without disturbing them,” she said.
Published - February 04, 2025 01:28 pm IST
