DibruSaikhowa

Dibru-Saikhowa National Park is a protected area in the Indian state of Assam, located in the upper Brahmaputra valley and spanning parts of the Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts, near the towns of Dibrugarh and Tinsukia. The park lies at the interface of riverine habitats, wetlands, and forested landscapes along the Brahmaputra and its tributaries. Its habitat mosaic includes riverine grasslands, swamps, and patches of semi-evergreen forest that support a diverse array of plant and animal life.

The park was established as a national park in 1999 and is part of the larger Dibru-Saikhowa Biosphere Reserve, a designation that recognizes the area’s ecological significance and its role in conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. The landscape supports a rich biodiversity, with a particularly notable avifauna due to both resident and migratory waterfowl. A feature often mentioned by visitors is the presence of feral horses that roam the riverine grasslands, along with other wildlife adapted to wetland and floodplain habitats.

Conservation and threats: Dibru-Saikhowa faces pressures from poaching, habitat encroachment, and periodic flooding that can alter wetland dynamics. The park is managed to conserve its habitats and ecological processes, with restrictions on certain activities and guided tourism to minimize disturbance.

Tourism: Access is typically via nearby towns such as Tinsukia and Dibrugarh. Visitors engage in birdwatching, guided wildlife safaris, and boat safaris, with the best viewing often during the winter season.