Manas Wildlife Sancuary

Imagine riding on the back of an elephant. As the fog clears vast grasslands are visible. In the distance a Serpent Eagle takes off from the dense deciduous forest. Deep from within the forest, the whooping calls of Hoolock Gibbon ring out.   A Hispid Hare jumps through the tall grass, and the glint of gold eyes are vaguely discernable several yards away. It takes only a few seconds for everyone to realize that a group of tigers is watching the procession. This is Manas Wildlife Sanctuary.   Manas Wildlife Sanctuary is a very special biosphere that needs more help to be preserved.
      Manas Wildlife Sanctuary is a UNESCO Natural World Heritage site that is located in Assam, India.   The 391 km2 sits in the foothills of the Eastern Himalayan mountains.   The park gets its name from the Manas River which runs through the park. On October 1, 1928 the park was declared a sanctuary with only 360 sq. km. In 1973 the Manas Tiger reserve was created.   Before this land was put under protection it was used by the Raja of Gauripur and the Cooch Behar royal family as a hunting ground (Wikipedia, 2007).   In 1985 UNESCO declared the area a world heritage site. “Kahitama R.F., the Kokilabari R.F. and the Panbari R.F. were added in the year 1990 to form the Manas National Park” (Wikipedia, 2007). Terrorism and excessive poaching led UNESCO to declare it a World Heritage site in danger in 1992. Manas Wildlife Park meets UNESCO criteria vii, ix, and x.
      Manas Wildlife Sanctuary is home to several endangered species that cannot be found anywhere else in the world.   The Assam Roofed Turtle, the Golden Langur, and the Pygmy Hog are just a few. “The park has recorded 55 species of mammals, 380 species of birds, 50 of reptiles, and 3 species of amphibians. Out of these wildlife, 21 mammals are India’s Schedule I mammals and 31 of them are threatened” (Wikipedia, 2007). Manas has the largest population of Bengal Floricans, which has recently been listed as critically endangered...