Pani Dihing Wildlife Sanctuary

Pani-Dihing Bird Sanctuary (Assamese: পানী দিহিং অভয়াৰণ্য) is a 33.93-square-kilometre (13.10 sq mi) bird sanctuary located in Sivasagar district, Assam. It is 22 km (14 mi) away from Sivasagar town.^[2] This protected area was established as a Bird Sanctuary in August 1996 by the Government of Assam.^[3] It was identified as a potential bird sanctuary in late 1980s. The first systematic ornithological surveys in the area was conducted by noted conservationist Dr Anwaruddin Choudhury in 1987–88.^[4] Pani-Dihing is a complex of grassland and wetland. Some of the wetlands including channels or beels include Tokia, Jarjaria, Boloma, Dighali, Singorajan, Sagunpora, Kandhulijan, Fulai and Gaiguma. A detailed background of Pani-Dihing has also been published.^[5] Pani-Dihing and adjacent areas is on the global map being an Important Bird & Biodiversity Area^[6]

Pani-Dihing Bird Sanctuary
Location of Pani-Dihing Bird Sanctuary in Assam
Location	Sivasagar district, Assam, India
Nearest city	Sivasagar
Coordinates	27°7′19″N 94°35′47″E[1]
Area	33.93 km2 (13.10 sq mi)
Established	1996
Governing body	Department of Environment & Forests, Assam

Climate

The climate of the area is tropical monsoon and annual temperature ranges between 7–38 °C (45–100 °F) annually. Annual rainfall is approximately 2400–3200 mm with a relative humidity of 65–85%.^{[citation needed]}

Rivers

The sanctuary is bordered by the Brahmaputra and the Disang rivers in the north west and south respectively.^[3]

Fauna

As many as 267 species of birds including 70 species of migratory birds have been identified and recorded at Pani Dihing.^[7] Some notable birds seen here are bar-headed goose, greylag goose, Indian spot-billed duck, mallard, gadwall, wigeon, garganey, shoveller, red-crested pochard, common pochard, ferruginous duck, greater adjutant stork, lesser adjutant stork, open-bill stork, white-necked stork, glossy ibis, grey plover, Himalayan griffon and white-rumped vulture^[8] Assam's first record of bank myna was from Pani-Dihing.^[9] Among mammals, there were past records of great Indian one-horned rhinoceros and tiger. Wild elephants, hog deer, rhesus monkey and otters.^[10]

Threats

Although an important birding area supporting a very large population of birds, Pani-Dihing has suffered on account of poaching, grazing of cattle and fishing within the sanctuary premises.^[7][11]

See also

• Protected areas of Assam