Assam's Panbari Reserve Forest Reopens After 16 Years, Reviving Birdwatching

KAZIRANGA: Panbari Reserve Forest, one of Assam’s richest birding sites, has reopened after 16 years. Located within the 1,302 sq. km Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, the forest is home to over 300 bird species, various butterflies, and arboreal mammals.

Panbari is a hill forest with tropical evergreen and semi-evergreen trees, and it is famous for hosting the tallest birding machan in the northeast, which includes eight states. However, the reserve was closed for birdwatching in 2009 due to accessibility issues and other unspecified reasons.

A 2022 effort to reopen the forest to birdwatchers and wildlife enthusiasts was unsuccessful. “We reopened Panbari on February 2 after completing an 8 km safari route. We are promoting responsible tourism there,” said Kaziranga’s Field Director Sonali Ghosh.

Situated along the southern boundary of Kaziranga National Park’s core area, Panbari is known for its diverse flora and fauna. Among the birds found here are the Asian fairy-bluebird (Irena puella), great Indian hornbill (Buceros bicornis), Jerdon’s baza (Aviceda jerdoni), black baza (Aviceda leuphotes), pied falconet (Microhierax melanoleucos), ruby-cheeked sunbird (Chalcoparia singalensis), sultan tit (Melanochlora sultanea), white-throated bulbul (Alophoixus flaveolus), black-naped monarch (Hypothymis azurea), and blue-naped pitta (Hydrornis nipalensis).

In addition to over 400 species of butterflies, the forest is home to the eastern hoolock gibbon (Hoolock leuconedys), capped langur (Presbytis pileatus), Assam macaque (Macaca assamensis), Indian elephant (Elephas maximus), Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris), sambar (Cervus unicolor), barking deer (Muntiacus muntjak), Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla), clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), common leopard (Panthera pardus), Indian porcupine (Hystrix indica), large Indian civet (Viverra zibetha), and small Indian civet (Viverricula indica).

"To meet the increasing interest in birdwatching, Panbari has made several improvements to enhance the visitor experience. New birding hides have been added above the machans, giving visitors a chance to observe the birds up close without disturbing them," Ghosh said.

“These strategically placed hides will enhance the birdwatching experience, enabling enthusiasts to capture stunning photographs and witness the beauty of these birds without disturbing them,” she added.

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