NEW WILDLIFE SANCTUARIES IN ASSAM, NORTH-EAST INDIA

摘要

Three new wildlife sanctuaries were notified A in Assam, north-east India in June 2004. Each is known for particular species of wildlife, as well as for their overall biodiversity values. Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary (79 km~2) is located near Guwahti, the capital city of Assam. Three small reserve forests, i.e. Amchang, South Amchang and Khanapara, constitute this sanctuary. Amchang is easily accessible from Guwahati city. This area was recommended for the first time for the protection of its isolated elephant (Elephas maximus) population (Choudhury, 1985) and later for its gaur (Bos gaums) population and because of its proximity to a growing metropolis (Choudhury 2002). The slow loris (Nycticebus coucang), Assamese macaque (Macaca assamensis), Rhesus macaque (M. mulatto), capped langur (Presbytis (=Trachypithecus) pileata), and hoolock gibbon (Hylobates (=Bunopithecus) hoolock) are the main primates that have been recorded in the sanctuary. The presence of two more species - the stump-tailed macaque (Macaca arctoides) and pig-tailed macaque (M. nemestrina) - has also been reported, but needs confirmation.