Orang National Park also known as the mini Kaziranga National Park (IUCN site) since the two parks have a similar landscape made up of marshes, streams and grasslands and are inhabited by the Great Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros.
Orang National Park covering an area of 78.81 sq. km.(30.43 sq mi) located on the north bank of the Brahmaputra River in the Darrang and Sonitpur districts of Assam. It was established as a sanctuary in 1985 and later declared as a National Park on 13 April 1999. The park is about 32 kms from Tezpur and 140 kms from Guwahati. The Park is famous for its natural scenic beauty that snatches the attention of the visitors / tourists to it. The park has a chequered history of habitation. Up to 1900, it was inhabited by the local tribes.
Orang park contains significant breeding populations of several mammalian species. Apart from the Great Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros (68 nos at the last count), which is the dominant species of the national park, the other key species sharing the habitat are the Royal Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris), Asiatic elephant, Pygmy Hog, hog deer and wild boar. Some important species of the critically endangered and endangered category are the following.
Pygmy Hog, a small wild pig, is Critically Endangered, C2a(ii) ver 3.1 as per IUCN listing, and is limited to about 75 animals in captivity, confined to a very few locations in and around north-western Assam, including the Orang National Park where it has been introduced.[9] Other mammals reported are the Blind Gangetic Dolphin, Indian Pangolin, Hog Deer (Axis porcinus), Rhesus Macaque, Bengal Porcupine, Indian Fox, Small Indian Civet, Otter, Leopard cat {Prionailurus bengalensis), Fishing cat (Felis viverrina) and Jungle Cat (Felis chaus).
The Royal Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris), categorized as Endangered on the IUCN Red List (IUCN, 2008), has an estimated population of about 19 (data source:Forest Department of Assam; census year 2000, based on pug marks) in the park.
The Great Indian One-Horned Rhinoceras (Rhinoceros unicornis) even though well conserved now in many national parks and in captivity, is still in the endangered list of IUCN and its population is estimated at 68, as per census carried out by the forest department, in 2006.
More than 50 species of fish have been recorded in the river and channels flowing through the park.
The park is home to a variety of migratory birds, water birds, predators, scavengers and game birds. 47 families of Anatidae, Accipitridae, Addenda and Ardeiae are found in the park with maximum number of species. 222 species of birds have so far been recorded, some of which are: Spot-billed Pelican (Pelicanus philippensis), Great White Pelican, Black-necked Stork (Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus), Greater Adjutant Stork (Leptoptilos dubius), Lesser Adjutant Stork (Leptoptilos javanicus), Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea), Gadwall (Anas strepera), Brahminy Duck, Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), Pintail (Anas acuta), Hornbills, Pallas's Fishing Eagle (Haliaeetus leucoryphus), King Fisher and Woodpecker, in addition to forest and grassland birds. But Bengal Florican (Houbaropsis bengalensis), which is in the threatened list of IUCN is one of the flagship species in the park with a population 30-40 (recorded second highest concentration as per Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS)) and is in the threatened list of IUCN.[3][4][8][10] Migratory birds as far as from America such as the milky American White Pelicans have also been reported in the park.
Among reptiles, seven species of Turtle and Tortoise are found, out of which turtle varieties such as Lissemys punctata, Kachuga tecta are common. Among snakes, pythons [disambiguation needed] and cobras are recorded here. Indian Rock Python, Black Krait, King Cobra, Cobra, Monitor Lizard are the reptiles found here.
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