A trip to Orang .

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 10^th 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.