Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park Covering 78.82 square
Kilometers of area is one of the important heritage site for the wildlife
situated in the junction of Darrang and Sonitpur District of Assam. Although I
have heard about this National Park several times, I was never been able to go
there. Finally I got a chance to visit this beautiful place.
Staying in the concrete jungle of Delhi and doing restless
media job was a little hectic for me and I really needed a break. So I resigned
from the firm and moved towards Assam with the hope to spend some good times
with family and nature. My parents told me
that there will be a nature camp by Nature’s Beckon in Orang National Park from
10th Dec. So I contacted with the organizer Sambhu Deb and Kishore
Kumar Chaudhuri. Following their instruction I started from Guwahati at the
early morning towards Mangaldoi. By 9.30 I get down at Mangaldoi and reached
the hotel, where almost all the other members were present. After a little
introduction we all started towards the National Park.
It is just 30 kilometer from Mangaldoi to ORang National
Park. The road is good and we reached the place with-in 45 munities. Prashaanti
Guest House was already booked for us. After the formal introduction our
Nature’s Camp began. We were all together 14 member and another six member
joined us letter on the next day. The programme started with discussion and
then tracking near the forest.
It is said that this whole
area of Orang National Park was a village till the year 1900. Due to black
fever people abandoned this place and moved to other places. After that the
area was covered by natural trees and wild life started to began. In 1915 British
govt declared this place as a Game Reserve. In 1972 hunting was banned in this
area and it was declared a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1985. And in the year 1999 it
was declared as National park.
The landscape of Orang is basically a flat plain with a few
depressions. There are several streams flowing in this area. A large part of
the park is covered by grassland. Other parts are filled with planted and
natural forest. Signs of human habitat are still visible in the Park. There are
several man made pond are still there and an ancient stone structure which
proves that this was a human habitat area.
At the end of each activity we had a discussion season in
our camp. Senior people from Nature’s Beckon who has immense knowledge about
birds, animals, trees shared their view. Expert on bird M.r Masih Ahmed Khan
Nayar introduced various birds to us. He also gave us an important lesion on
bird watching. Golap Gogoi , Kishore Kumar Chaudhuri, Hemanjali Handique and
Sambhu Narayan Deb shared their experience of jungle along with other important
information. Various discussions were done on the topic of conservation and
protection of nature.
Orang National Park has a very dense population of various
animals. According to the recent census there are approximately 14 Tigers in
the park. The park has a population of 64 Great Indian One Horned Rhinos, 5
wild elephants, numerous Hog Deer, Wild Boar, Indian Pangolin, Porcupines, Fox,
Small Indian Civet, Otter, Leopard, Fishing Cat, Rhesus Macaque, and Blind
Gangetic Dolphin etc.
The Park has a large population of birds. Numerous species
of birds are visible in the park. Among these Bengal Florican, spotted-billed
Pelican, Black necked Stork, Greater Adjutant Stork, Woolly necked Stork, Ruddy
Shelduck, Gadwall, Mallard, Pintails, Fishing Eagles are widely visible. Among
reptiles Python, Krait, Viper, Cobra, and 9 species of turtles are available in
this park. 19 species of Amphibians are also seen in Orang National Park.
Nature’s Beckons nature’s camp is a complete package of
information, entertainment, and practical activities. We had discussion, interaction, debate, Book
review, Musical session, tracking, Jeep safari, and all other activities that
can be done in a camp. Those two days were informative, relaxing, entertaining,
refreshing which really attacked me towards nature conservation and
preservation.
