Assam's Behali Reserve Forest Designated As 'Wildlife Sanctuary'

Guwahati: The Assam government has declared the Behali reserve forest in Biswanath district to be designated as a wildlife sanctuary.

In this regard, a gazette notification has been issued on May 4 which marks a 157.25 sq km area under the Borgang Forest Range in the Sonitpur East Forest Division of Biswanath district as Behali Wildlife Sanctuary.

"The Governor of Assam hereby appoints the Deputy Commissioner of Biswanath District to act as a Collector under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, to inquire into and determine the existence, nature, and extent of rights of any person in or over the land comprised within the limits described in the Schedule," the notification read.

The Behali Reserve Forest was declared in 1917 and it is one of the few forests left in the Biswanath district. The initial area of 140 sq km of the reserve forest has now shrunk to only 80 sq km due to illegal encroachment and deforestation.

This forest once connected the Pakke and Nameri Tiger Reserve in the east through Pabhoi RF to Singlijan, Gohpur, Dullung, and Kakoi in the west, creating a freeway for the migration of the endangered elephants and other wild animals.

However, this long belt of forests is now severely fragmented, leaving a few intact, others diminishing into huge agricultural landscapes. Remaining unexplored for nearly a century, the Behali reserve forest has now produced wonders.

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