Garampani, Nambor and Doigrung (18079)
India, Asia

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 2005

National site name: Garampani, Nambor and Doigrung

Central coordinates: Latitude: 26.4212, Longitude: 93.7305

System: terrestrial

Elevation (m): 100 to 120

Area of KBA (km²): 119.08154

KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: This site comprises Garampani (605 ha) and Nambor (3,700 ha) wildlife sanctuaries in Karbi Anglong district and the proposed Nambor-Doigrung Wildlife Sanctuary in Golaghat district. The area is low undulating country, being at the edge of an Archaean plateau called Karbi Plateau. The plains are the floodplains of the Dhansiri river. The forest type is Tropical Semi-evergreen with pockets of pure Evergreen, interspersed with small forest marshes. The area is known for its hot springs, hence named Garampani (Garam = hot; pani = water). The Nambor forests are important for the Asian Elephant Elephas maximus and Gaur Bos frontalis. Nambor and Garampani were in the news in the early 1990s because of the ‘elephant phenomenon’, when the wild pachyderms used to stop vehicular traffic in search of food. More than a thousand local tourists visit Garampani every winter for picnics. The forest is largely intact, with a closed canopy. The middle storey is dense and the undergrowth includes cane brakes. Figs Ficus spp. are common and provide food to many frugivores. The undergrowth is usually shrubby. Some deciduous tree species such as Tetrameles nudiflora can be seen throughout the range.

Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas) KBA identified in the CEPF Ecosystem Profile of the Eastern Himalayas Hotspot (2005). Taxonomy, nomenclature and threat category follow the 2002 IUCN Red List.

Additional biodiversity: AVIFAUNA: More than 160 species of birds have been recorded in the area, including the Endangered White-winged Duck Cairina scutulata (Choudhury 2000), Near Threatened Great Pied Hornbill Buceros bicornis and the Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus in the adjoining fields. This could be a very important IBA for the conservation of White-winged Duck. Choudhury (2000) estimated a population of 20 ducks in Nambor. As the forest is largely intact, this site is extremely important for the protection of many forest birds of the Indo-Chinese Tropical Moist Forests (Biome-9) and the Indo-Gangetic Plains (Biome-12). Detailed survey of bird life is required in this site to know the full avian diversity of this IBA. OTHER KEY FAUNA: Besides the Asian Elephant and the Gaur, there are Tiger Panthera tigris, Leopard P. pardus, Pig-tailed Macaque Macaca nemestrina, Assamese Macaque M. assamensis, Rhesus Macaque M. mulatta, Slow Loris Loris tardigradus, Capped Langur Presbytis pileatus and Hoolock Gibbon Hylobates hoolock (Choudhury 1993). In the past, Gharial Gavialis gangeticus was reported from Dhansiri river but now only a few turtles and snakes including the King Cobra Ophiophagus hannah and Indian Rock Python Python molurus are found in this IBA.

Habitats

Land use: agriculture | forestry | nature conservation and research | tourism/recreation

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Forest	50
Wetlands(Inland)	50

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: MAIN THREATS: Encroachment; Vehicular traffic; Poaching, especially by people from Nagaland; Illegal felling. A busy national highway passes through the sanctuaries as well as the reserve forest. Wild animals are often crushed to death by the speeding vehicles and are also disturbed. This IBA is inadequately protected and needs immediate attention.

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Agriculture & aquaculture	Annual & perennial non-timber crops	Small-holder farming	Ongoing
Biological resource use	Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals	Intentional use (species being assessed is the target)	Ongoing
Biological resource use	Logging & wood harvesting	Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest]	Ongoing
Human intrusions & disturbance	Work & other activities		Ongoing
Transportation & service corridors	Roads & railroads		Ongoing

Additional information

References: Choudhury, A. U. (1993) A naturalist in Karbi Anglong. Gibbon Books. Guwahati. Pp. 78. Choudhury, A. U. (2000) Birds of Assam. Gibbon Books & WWF-India NE Region, Guwahati. Pp. 16-17, 34.