The Cabinet of Assam chaired by Chief Minister(CM) Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma has decided to rename the Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park as the “Orang National Park” to honour the Adivasi and tea tribe communities of Assam.
The Orang National Park is often referred to as the mini Kaziranga of Assam.
Note:
Assam has 7 national parks – Dihing Patkai; Raimona; Kaziranga; Manas; Dibru-Saikhowa; Nameri and Orang National Park.
Background:
i.The National park was named Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park in 2001 by the Tarun Gogoi government of the Congress.
ii.The decision of the cabinet to restore the original name of Orang National Park was made considering the demands of the Adivasi and tea tribe communities.
iii.During a meeting between the CM and the representatives of the Adivasi and tea tribe communities of Assam have requested to rename the Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park to honour the Adivasi and tea tribe communities.
About Orang National Park:
i.An area of 79.28 sq km located on the north bank of the Brahmaputra in the Darrang and Sonitpur districts of Assam was originally declared as a Wildlife sanctuary in 1985 and was declared as a national park in 1999.
ii.The national park is well known for various wild animals such as Royal Bengal Tiger, Indian one-horned Rhinos, Pygmy Hog, and wild elephants.
iii.In March 2016, the National Tiger Conservation Authority(NTCA) declared 492.46 sq km of the national park as a Tiger Reserve.
Recent Related News:
i.On 5th June 2021, the World Environment Day, Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma has declared the Raimona region in Kokrajhar district as Assam’s 6th National Park (NP). The Ramona NP is a 422 sq. km contiguous forest patch within the Bodoland Territorial Region.
ii.On 9th June 2021, the Assam government notified the 111.942 sq km Dehing Patkai wildlife sanctuary (WLS) as its 7th National Park(NP). The WLS is a part of the larger Dehing Patkai Elephant Reserve. Dehing Patkai WLS, also known as the “Amazon of the East” or “Jeypore Rainforest” is located in the Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts of Assam.
About Assam:
Governor– Prof Jagdish Mukhi
Wildlife Sanctuary– Panidihing Wildlife Sanctuary; Hollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary
Tiger Reserve– Kaziranga Tiger Reserve; Orang Tiger Reserve
