Nestled in Assam's Sonitpur district, Sonai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary spans 220 square kilometres, with roots tracing back to its establishment as the Sonai-Rupai Game Sanctuary by the British in 1934.
The geographical area of the sanctuary lies between latitudes 26° 51′ 36″N to 26° 57′36″N and longtitude 92° 20′ 24″E to 92° 34′48″E. The sanctuary situated at an elevation ranging from 400 to 700 feet above sea level.
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To the east lies the Gabhoru River
while the Pasnoi River marks the western boundary
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Up north, it shares an interstate boundary with Kameng Reserve Forest in Arunachal Pradesh.
To the south, it abuts Charduar Reserve Forest and nearby villages
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July 1983- following the declaration of Darrang district, the Charduar Reserve Forest, originally part of Darrang district, now falls in Sonitpur district's northwest.
1878- established during British rule, it was once the country's second-largest reserve forest, covering 438.64 sq. km.
1934- a portion of the forest was designated as the Sonai-Rupai Game Sanctuary mainly for hunting by the British.
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After British rule, the Assam Forest Department managed the forest, allowing human activities due to its reserve forest status.
1998, to protect wildlife habitat, the Assam Forest Department declared a 220 sq. km area as the Sonai-Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary.
The sanctuary is surrounded by villages inhabited by diverse communities including Assamese, Nepali, Bodo, and indigenous people.
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The geography of Sonai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary comprises various forest types and landscapes. While most of the area is flat, the northern side is hilly, gently sloping towards the south.
Summer: (March to May) with temperatures reaching up to 32°C.
Rainy Season: (June to September), heavy rainfall of 2000-2800mm occurs due to the South-West monsoon winds.
Winter: (November to February) averages 16°C, dipping to a minimum of 6°C in January.
humidity: The sanctuary stays humid year-round due to its many rivers
Sonai Rupai Sanctuary boasts diverse forests and limited river-side grasslands, comprising just 4% of its area. Mainly semi-evergreen and moist deciduous forests dominate, with dense hardwood forests near the Assam-Arunachal border and grasslands in the south.
Sonai-Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary hosts a variety of wildlife, including predators like leopards and wild dogs, with occasional tiger sightings. It's also home to Asian elephants, Indian Gaurs, Himalayan Crestless porcupines, and a range of other species.
The Sanctuary is teeming with diverse bird species, including the Bengal Florican, Rufous-necked Hornbill, White-winged Wood Duck, Grey Peacock Pheasant, and Himalayan Flameback, among others.
It boasts a remarkable diversity of reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates, including the Russell viper, Cobra, python, various lizard species, and the Indian karait, among others.