A large-scale eviction drive is underway in Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary (Nagaon district, Assam) to remove alleged encroachments and restore protected forest land.

More About the News

• The Assam Government, through the District Administration, Forest Department, and law enforcement agencies, has launched an eviction drive against alleged illegal cultivation inside the sanctuary. 
• The operation primarily targets jute cultivation carried out on protected forest land, aiming to restore the sanctuary’s ecological integrity and strengthen wildlife conservation.

About Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary

• Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Nagaon district of Assam on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra River.
• The sanctuary covers an area of approximately 70.13 square kilometres.
• It was declared a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1972 under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
• The sanctuary is managed by the Assam Forest Department.
• It forms an integral part of the Laokhowa–Burhachapori Wildlife Sanctuary ecosystem.
• It has been notified as the buffer zone of the Kaziranga Tiger Reserve.

Ecological Importance

• The sanctuary acts as an important wildlife corridor connecting Kaziranga National Park, Orang National Park, Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, Pakke and Nameri National Parks, and the forests of Karbi Anglong.
• The ecosystem consists of riverine grasslands, wetlands, woodlands and numerous islands formed by the Brahmaputra River.
• The sanctuary plays an important role in maintaining ecological connectivity across the Brahmaputra floodplains.

Flora and Habitat

• The sanctuary is characterised by wet alluvial grasslands, riverine forests, woodland vegetation and perennial wetlands.
• Its diverse habitats support rich biodiversity and provide ideal breeding grounds for many aquatic and terrestrial species.

Major Wildlife

• The sanctuary is home to the Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros, Royal Bengal Tiger, Asian Elephant and Asiatic Wild Buffalo.
• Other important mammals include Hog Deer, Sambar, Barking Deer, Fishing Cat, Leopard Cat, Civets, Pangolin, Slow Loris, Wild Pig, Porcupine and Hare.
• The sanctuary supports more than 225 species of birds, including the Bengal Florican, Greater Adjutant, Lesser Adjutant, Black-necked Stork and several migratory water birds.
• The wetlands serve as breeding grounds for around 39 species of fish, 9 species of amphibians and 14 species of reptiles.
• The adjoining Brahmaputra River also supports the endangered Gangetic River Dolphin.

Conservation Significance

• The sanctuary is an important habitat for the conservation and movement of the Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros under the Indian Rhino Vision programme.
• Many Schedule I species protected under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 are found in the sanctuary.
• The wetlands and grasslands are critical for the survival of endangered mammals, reptiles and migratory birds.

Key Objectives of the Eviction Drive

• To remove illegal encroachments from protected forest land.
• To restore degraded wildlife habitats and improve ecosystem health.
• To prevent illegal cultivation and human interference inside the sanctuary.
• To strengthen habitat connectivity for wildlife, particularly rhinoceros, elephants and other species.

Challenges

• Encroachment and illegal cultivation reduce available wildlife habitat.
• Human-wildlife conflict increases as natural habitats shrink.
• Habitat degradation affects biodiversity conservation and ecological balance.
• Effective enforcement and community participation remain essential for long-term conservation.

Exam Hook – Prelims
1. Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary, recently seen in the news, is primarily associated with the conservation of which iconic species?

(a) Snow Leopard
(b) Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros
(c) Hangul Deer
(d) Nilgiri Tahr

Answer: (b) Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros

One-Line Wrap

The restoration of Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary through the removal of encroachments highlights the importance of balancing biodiversity conservation with effective protection of India’s ecologically sensitive protected areas.