Raimona National Park: An Overview

Context:

Recently, three poachers were arrested from Raimona National Park in Kokrajhar, Assam, by personnel from the Assam Forest Department and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB). This highlights ongoing conservation challenges in the park.

Location and Status

• Location: Raimona National Park is situated in Kokrajhar district, within the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR), Assam, along the Indo-Bhutan border.
• National Park Status: It was officially declared a national park on June 5, 2021.

Trans-boundary Conservation Landscape

• Raimona shares contiguous forest patches with:
• Phibsoo Wildlife Sanctuary (Bhutan)
• Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park (Bhutan)
• This forms a conservation landscape spanning over 2,400 square kilometers across India and Bhutan.

Geographical Features

• Rivers:
• Sonkosh River lies to the west of the park.
• Saralbhanga River flows to the east.
• Vegetation: The park features 12 distinct forest types, including:
• Moist sal forests
• Sub-Himalayan high alluvial semi-evergreen forests
• Savannah forests
• Moist-mixed deciduous forests
• Khoir-sisoo forests.

Flora and Fauna

• Flora: The park is rich in orchid species, tropical rainforest vegetation, and riverine grasslands.
• Fauna: Raimona is known for its rich biodiversity, including:
• Endemic golden langur (the mascot of Bodoland)
• Elephants
• Bengal tigers
• Wild bison
• White-spotted deer
• Clouded leopards
• Wild buffalo.

Conservation Efforts

The recent arrests of poachers highlight the ongoing efforts by park authorities to protect the park's unique flora and fauna from illegal activities. The park's trans-boundary location makes it crucial for broader regional conservation initiatives with Bhutan.