Area 33.93 km² Established 1996 | ||
 | ||
Governing body Department of Environment & Forests, Assam | ||
Pani Dihing Wildlife Sanctuary (Assamese: পানী দিহিং অভয়াৰণ্য) is a 33.93-square-kilometre (13.10 sq mi) wildlife sanctuary located in Sivasagar district, Assam. It is 22 km (14 mi) away from Sivasagar town. This protected area was established as a Bird Sanctuary in August 1999 by the Government of Assam.
Contents
Climate
The climate of the area is moist tropical and annual temperature ranges between 8-35 Celsius annually. Annual rainfall is approximately 3200 mm with a relative humidity of 65-85 %.
Rivers
The sanctuary is bordered by the Brahmaputra and the Dishang rivers in the north west and south respectively.
Fauna
As many as 267 species of birds including 70 species of migratory birds have been identified and recorded at Pani Dihing. The common birds seen here are bar-headed goose, greylag goose, spot-billed duck, mallards, gadwall, wigeon, garganey, shoveller, red crested pochard, common pochard, ferruginous duck, adjutant stork, kingfisher, lesser adjutant stork, open bill stork, white necked stork. The rare griffon and white-rumped vultures have also been spotted at the sanctuary.
Threats
Although an important birding area supporting a very large population of birds, Pani Dihing has suffered on account of poaching, grazing of cattle and fishing within the sanctuary premises.