Situated on the northern bank of the Brahmaputra River in Assam’s Darrang and Sonitpur districts, Orang National Park is often referred to as ‘Mini Kaziranga’; like Kaziranga National Park, it is home to a significant population of the endangered one-horned rhinoceros and shares a similar landscape.
Covering only 79.28 square kilometres, the Orang National Park is a vital hotspot for wildlife, home to iconic species like the magnificent endangered one-horned rhinoceros, Bengal tiger, and pygmy hog.
A historical overview
Originally inhabited by local tribes, the area that is now Orang National Park was abandoned by its tribal population in the early 1900s due to an epidemic. In 1915, the British colonial authorities designated it as a game reserve, an area for wildlife conservation and controlled hunting, and over the years, it evolved into the wildlife sanctuary it is today. In 1999, it officially became Orang National Park — a protected area with a rich history and even richer biodiversity.
The park is located in an alluvial floodplain, formed by the coming together of several rivers, including the Pachnoi, Belsiri, and Dhansiri, which join the Brahmaputra. This geography makes the park especially vulnerable to seasonal flooding, but also supports a wide range of plant and animal life, including 12 natural wetlands and 26 artificial water bodies.
The wildlife of Orang
One of Orang’s greatest strengths is its impressive array of wildlife. The park is most famous for being the northernmost stronghold of the great Indian one-horned rhinoceros. As per 2022 numbers, it is home to around 125 rhinos, the numbers for which have been steadily increasing. The park also houses a variety of other large mammals, such as the Asiatic elephant, wild water buffalo, and the hog deer.
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Equally important are the park’s smaller and endangered species. The critically endangered pygmy hog, a tiny wild pig, was reintroduced into the park from 2011 to 2015, and has slowly begun to thrive here. Other species like the Bengal porcupine, Indian pangolin, and jungle cat are also found in Orang.
Bengal tiger: A conservation priority
Perhaps the most iconic species in Orang National Park is the Bengal tiger. While the park has seen a significant population decline over the years, efforts to protect and monitor these elusive big cats are now at the forefront of conservation work here.
Once home to a more abundant tiger population, Orang now houses a small but vital group of tigers, with estimates suggesting around 26 individuals as of July, 2023. The loss of habitat, human-wildlife conflict, and poaching have all contributed to the declining numbers of these regal predators.
To address this, a unique conservation programme has been launched in the park, aimed at safeguarding the Bengal tiger population. Supported by global conservation organisations like the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) and Busch Gardens, the programme uses technology, such as camera traps and geo-spatial monitoring, to track the tigers’ movements and behaviours.
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This monitoring is coupled with a community-driven approach to manage human-tiger conflict. The locals, who have lived alongside the tigers for generations, are actively engaged in conservation efforts. The success of this programme is crucial, not only for the future of tigers in Orang but also for our overall biodiversity. With around 4,500 Bengal tigers left in the wild, most of which are in India, every successful conservation effort counts toward ensuring their survival.
Orang National Park may be small in comparison to some of India’s more famous wildlife sanctuaries, but it is a sanctuary for mammals, and a vital habitat for over 50 species of fish and a variety of migratory birds. Among these are rare and endangered species that make Orang an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) as per BirdLife International. The wetlands of Orang serve as one of the most crucial bird habitats in the region, drawing waterfowl and predators alike.
Edited by Arunava Banerjee