Sikhna Jwhwlao National Park Approved in Assam
Why focus: GS1 Geography — tests new 8th Assam National Park (Sikhna Jwhwlao) and Manas-Buxa wildlife corridor in Match-the-Following map format.
In News
What Happened
Why It Matters
Background
History & Context
What Changed
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BEFORE: The 316 sq km area functioned as parts of the Chirang and Manas Reserve Forests within the Chirang-Ripu Elephant Reserve, which allowed certain human activities. NOW: It is classified as a National Park under the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972, granting it the highest level of strict legal protection as an inviolate space.
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BEFORE: Assam had seven national parks, with the contiguous forest stretch between Manas and Raimona lacking the highest tier of legal protection. NOW: Assam has eight national parks, and Sikhna Jwhwlao establishes a fully protected ecological corridor between Raimona (west) and Manas (east), extending to Bhutan's Phibsoo Wildlife Sanctuary.
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BEFORE: The endemic Golden Langur and over 460 butterfly species resided in reserve forests susceptible to habitat fragmentation. NOW: These species are safeguarded in a dedicated national park, complemented by conservation initiatives like the new Butterfly Museum and Research Centre inaugurated in nearby Ultapani.
Prelims Angle
NCERT Connection
Practice Questions
Q1
Correct Statement(s)With reference to the newly declared Sikhna Jwhwlao National Park, consider the following statements: 1. It serves as a contiguous wildlife corridor connecting Kaziranga National Park to Dibru-Saikhowa National Park. 2. It is a major habitat for the endangered Golden Langur and is located within the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR). Which of the statements given above is/are correct?