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ISSN: 2067-533X
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL
OF
CONSERVATION SCIENCE
Volume 7, Issue 2, April-June 2016: 523-532
www.ijcs.uaic.ro
FAUNAL DIVERSITY AND THREATS OF THE DIBRU-SAIKHOWA
BIOSPHERE RESERVE: A STUDY FROM ASSAM, INDIA
Rangini NONGMAITHEM1, Mahendra Singh LODHI1*,
Prasanna Kumar SAMAL1, Pitamber Prasad DHYANI2, Subrat SHARMA2
1 G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development,
North East Unit, Vivek Vihar, Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh (India), 791113
2 G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development,
Kosi-Katarmal, Almora, Uttarakhand (India), 263643
Abstract
The paper in an attempt to develop an inventory of faunal diversity of Dibru-Saikhwa
Biosphere Reserve (DSBR) of Assam which is one of the important Biosphere Reserves of the
Eastern Indian Himalaya and to highlight the threats that the BR is facing over the years so as
to decisively support the need for conservation efforts. After compilation and analysis from
various data sources the BR depicts the presence of 503 species of birds, 37 species of
mammals, 42 species of reptiles, 17 species of amphibian, 104 species of fishes, 105 species of
butterfly and 91 globally threatened faunal species, while the Soil microbial diversity in the BR
is contributed by 26 soil micro-fungal forms. The rich biodiversity of the BR is under stress due
to natural and human pressures. As per the recent studies, the BR has lost an area of 77.14km2
due to revirine stress and 3.71km2 has been encroached as per the State Forest Report.
Keywords: Dibru-Saikhowa Biosphere; Eastern Himalaya; Biodiversity; Protected Area.
Introduction
The Dibru-Saikhowa Biosphere Reserve (DSBR), being located on the bank of mighty
Brahmaputra and resting in the lap of the Eastern Himalaya, enjoys a luxurious ecosystem and
shelters a number of rare and endangered faunal species, a wintering ground for many
migratory birds and many other threatened faunal species of the globe. It is one of the 19
biodiversity hotspot in the world. The Dibru-Saihkhowa is coroneted with the three prestigious
statuses, being a Sanctuary, National Park and a Biosphere Reserve as well. The core zone of
the DSBR is basically defined as the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park. Thus the need of research,
development and conservation in and around DSBR is even more important than other BRs in
the country.
The Dibru-Saikhowa Biosphere Reserve lies between 27o30’ N to 27o45’ N latitude and
95o10’ to 95o45’ E longitude at an average altitude of 118m above the mean sea level. It is
located in Tinsukia and Dibrugarh District of Assam and the entire Reserve is located in the low
laying flood plain of the mighty Brahmaputra River and Lohit River bordering the North and
the Dibru River bordering the south. It was notified as a Sanctuary in 1986 and later as National
Park in 1999 and as Biosphere Reserve on 28/07/1997. It extens over an area of 765km2 of
which a 340km2 area is designated as a core zone and a 425km2 area as buffer zone with 14
* Corresponding author: mahen29.mail@gmail.com
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fringe villages. Laika and Dhadiya are the two forest village belonging to Mishing community
with 1500 household and approximate population of 10,500 people, located in the westernmost
part of the Reserve. The buffer zone is inhabited by 38 villages with a total population of 13405
people (that includes Assames, Bengali, Bihari and Tea Garden laborers). The DSBR is 40%
wetland of variable sizes and 25% grassland. The water bodies within the BR are in the form of
beels and chapories providing a unique habitat and supporting a rich aquatic biodiversity. Dibru
Saikhowa Biosphere has tropical monsoon climate with a hot and wet summer and cool and
usually dry winter and the main forest types found are moist mixed semi-evergreen forest, moist
mixed deciduous forest, littoral and swamp forest, canebrakes and grasslands. The annual
rainfall ranges from 2300mm to 3800mm which occurs mainly in the months of June, July,
August, and September. The average coldest and warmest temperature of the area ranges from 7
to 34°C. The river Brahmaputra has a major contribution maintaining the biodiversity of the
BR. The River has hundreds of tributaries and the extensive flood water has given rise to the
promotion of permanent marshes which are an important habitat for a varied aquatic fauna.
More than 3000 such marshes are scattered in the whole Brahmaputra valley. The riverine tract
of Brahmaputra river and its basin hosts rich and unique biodiversity and has been identified as
Important Bird Area by BNHS and Birdlife International in 2004.
Fig. 1. Location map of Dibru-Saikhowa Biosphere Reserve, India
Methodology
The overall idea of preparing this manuscript was to present a holistic analysis of faunal
biodiversity of Dibru-Saikhowa Biosphere Reserve at one place and therefore, information
regarding the faunal composition have been collected and compiled from different sources.
These different sources include published research paper, articles, books, unpublished reports
and other authentic online sources. The faunal biodiversity information of the BRs has also
been collected from regional office Zoological Survey of India, Assam State Biodiversity
Board, Forest Department, District Forest Range Office in the form of management plans etc.
The collected data was analyzed thoroughly and interpreted using online sources like IUCN
FAUNAL DIVERSITY AND THREATS OF THE DIBRU-SAIKHOWA BIOSPHERE RESERVE: ASSAM, INDIA
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Red Data Version 1.3 so as to present the data with systematic taxonomic position and global
status.
Results
a. Faunal diversity in DSBR
A total of 808 faunal species have been found reported in different available sources,
represented as follows: 503 (62.25%) species of birds, 37 (4.53%) species of mammals, 42
(5.18%) species of reptiles, 17 (2.10%) species of Amphibian, 104 (12.87%) species of fish and
105 (12.99%) species of butterflies among invertebrates (Fig. 2). There are 91 (11.26%)
globally threatened faunal species reported from the DSBR. The threatened species comprise of
50 (54.94%) bird species, 18 (19.78%) mammalian species, 9 (9.89%) reptilian species and 15
(15.38%) species of fishes.
Fig. 2. Faunal Diversity of Dibru-Saikhowa Biosphere Reserve, India.
Avifauna contributes to the maximum of 248 genera and 503 species, belonging to 19
order and 68 families. The order Passeriformes contributes with 232 (46.12%) spp. followed by
order falconiformes with 47 (9.43%) spp., charadriiformes with 41 (8.23%) spp., order
Anseriformes with 31 (6.22%) spp., ciconiiformes with 25 (5.02%) spp., order Piciformes with
19 (3.81%) spp., coraciiformes and gruiformes with 17 (3.41%) spp. each, cuculiformes with
16 (3.21%) spp., columbiformes with 15 (3.01%) spp., strigiformes with 14 (2.81%) spp.,
galliformes with 7 (1.40%) spp., Apodiformes with 6 (1.02%) spp., Pelecaniformes with 5 spp.,
order Psittaciformes with 4 spp., caprimulgiformes with 3 spp., isoetales with 2 spp. and 1 spp.
each from the podicipediformes and trongoniformes order.
The 37 mammalian species reported belong to 32 genera, 22 families and 11 orders. The
highest number of species, 12 (3.33%) is represented by the order Carnivora, followed by the
order Rodentia with 6 (16.21%) spp., Primate with 6 (16.21%) spp. and order Cetartiodactyla
also with 6 spp., while the rest of the orders, Insectivora, Cetacea, Chiroptera, Pholitoda
Perisodactyla, lagomorpha and Proboscidea are contributing with only 1 species each. The
dominant families contributing with the maximum number of species are Sciuridae, Felidae,
Cercopithecidae, Cervidae, Herpestidae and Canidae. The families Bovidae, Elephantidae,
Equidae, Suidae,Platanistidae, Viverridae,Ursidae, Hylopatidae, Lorisidae,Manidae, Talpidae,
Soricidae, Pteropodidae, Mustelidae and Leporidae are contributing with at least 1 species.
The 42 species of Reptiles belong to 2 orders and 10 families. The order Squamata
exhibits a maximum species of 31 (73.8%) while the order Testudine contributes with a total of
11 (26.19%) species. The family Colubridae exhibit a maximum number of species of 19
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INT J CONSERV SCI 7, 2, APR-JUN 2016: 523-532
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(45.23%), followed by the family Geomydidae with 7 (16.66%) spp. family Trionychidae with
4 (9.52%) species and 2 (4.76%) species each by the family Gekkonidae, Varanidae and
Typhlopidae, while the family Viperidae contributes with only 1 (2.3%) species.
The Amphibian fauna exhibits a total of 10 genera and 17 species belonging to 5
families, Order Anura. The dominant genera contributing with the maximum number of species
are Fejervarya, Hylarana, Polypedates and Chiromantis. The Family Dicroglossidae
contributes with a total species of 6 (35.29%), Rhacophoridae with 5 (29.41%) species,
Ranidae with 4 (23.52%) species while the family Microhylidae and Bufonidae are contributing
with only 1 (5.88%) species each.
A total of 64 genera and 104 species of fish fauna belonging to 29 families and 11 orders
were reported on the reserve. The family Cyprinidae exhibited a maximum number of species
of 34 (32.69%), followed by the family Bagridae with 13 (12.5%) species, family Channidae
with 7 (6.73%) species, family Sisoridae with 5 (4.80%) species. The dominant genera are
Chanda, Labeo, Puntius, Mystus and Barilius. The order Cypriniformes is represented by 39
(37.5%) species, followed by the order Siluriformes with 33 (31.73%) species, Perciformes
contributes 20 (19.23%) species, Synbranchiformes with 3 species while the orders
Osteoglossiformes and Mugiliformes are contributing with only 2 species each and the last 5
orders, Anguilliformes, Archeopulomonata, Beloniformes, Clupeiformes and Tetradontiformes
are contributing with at least 1 species each.
The invertebrate fauna is represented by 73 genera and 105 species of butterfly
belonging to 5 families and order Lepidoptera. The family Nymphalidae dominates by
contributing with 45 (42.85%) species, followed by the family Lycaenidae with 21 (20%) spp.,
Pieridae with 17 (16.19%) spp., Papilionidae with 15 (14.28%) spp., and Hesperiidae with 7
(6.7%) spp. While soil microbial diversity of the BR is comprised by 26 soil micro-fungal
forms, species like Aspergillus, Penicillium and Rhizopus are the most common ones.
There are 50 (9.9%) species of globally threatened avifauna reported in the BR. The
avifaunal species that are winters visitor or migrant in the BR include Anser indicus, Tadorna
ferruginea, Anas crecca, Tringa nebularia, Sturnus vulgaris, Monticola rufiventris , Anthus
roseatus, Phylloscopus fuscatus, Turdus ruficollis, Sylvia curruca, Phylloscopus coronatus,
Seicercus castaniceps, Seicercus burkii, Niltava sundara, Bradypterus seebohmi, Calidris
subminuta etc. Among the11 turtle species recorded, a total of 8 (19.04%) species were globally
threatened and 15 fish species are found globally threatened.
The DSBR supports a variety of floral elements, comprised of 680 species of plants,
belonging to 464 genera and 143 families, all represented by 511 species of dicotyledonous
plants and 169 species of monocotyledons plants. There are more than 25 species of orchids
Discussion
The DSBR is the proposed Ramsar site and falls in the course of two major international
fly-ways of migratory birds. The area is known as a major haunting grounds of the globally
threatened White-winged Duck Cairina scutulata, Black-breasted Parrotbill Paradoxornis
flavirostris and Marsh Babbler Pellorneum palustre. The DSBR shelters a small population of
feral horses as well. Some of the key fauna of the DSBR includes Asian Elephant Elephas
maximus, Tiger Panthera tigris, Leopard P. pardus, Sloth Bear Melursus ursinus, Slow Loris
Nycticebus coucang, Pigtailed Macaque Macaca nemestrina, Rhesus Macaque M. mulatta,
Assamese Macaque M. assamensis, Capped Langur Trachypithecus pileatus, Barking Deer
Muntiacus muntjak, Hog Deer Axis porcinus, Flying Squirrel Petaurista sp., Gangetic River
Dolphin Plantanista gangetica, Monitor Lizards Varanus bengalensis, V. salvator, various
turtles including Kachuga sylhetensis, snakes including Indian Cobra Naja naja and Indian
Rock Python Python molurus. Assam Roof Turtle Kachuga sy lhetensis etc. The avifauna of the
BR was extensively studied, specifically by Choudhury [1-5], Kazmierczak & Allen [6],
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Dwivedi [7], Allen [8] and Talukdar [9]. The DSBR has been surveyed and studied several
times in the recent years and its rich faunal resources have been reported by various authors,
namely primates and other higher mammals by Choudhary [4, 10-12].
The wetlands in the form of marshes, swamps, chapories (river islands and sandbanks)
and grassland in the DSBR support quite a lot of threatened faunal species of the Globe. The
grasslands, which are dominated by Impreta cylindrical and Saccharum spontaneum and the
islands with a mosaic of various grass species are the ideal habitat for Bengal florican, nesting
ground for Swamp Partridge Francolinus gularis and Peafowl Pavo cristatus. The tall moist
alluvial grassland in the flood plain of Brahmaputra is also the unique habitat for endangered
Great Indian one horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis), pygmy hog (Parcula salvanius),
Hispid hare etc.
a. Threats to rich diversity and unique ecosystem of Dibru-Saikhowa BR:
Even though the DSBR is a repository of rich faunal resources, the BR is fragile and
vulnerable to innumerable threats. Flood is the major natural threat to the BR, because it can
cause habitat destruction and land use change. The BR is surrounded from all sides by rivers, 10
of them, namely Bhramaputra, Nao Dihing, Lohit, Dibru, Siang, Debang, Kundli, Tengapani,
Dotung and Dangori and is absorbing the brunt of annual multi-wave flood. The Brahmaputra
River with its braided channels is characterized by its exceedingly large flow, enormous volume
of sediment load, continuous change in channel morphology, rapid bed aggradations, bank line
erosion and recession. Within 25 years (1986- 2011) a total loss of about 846 km2 area has been
caused by the Brahmaputra River system due to bank-line erosion [13]. The BR suffers
immensely during heavy rainfall leading to frequent flooding. Flooding hits the BR on an
average two to three times almost every year. Theses recurring floods change the river course
causing erosion and siltation. The BR management Committee has reported that a landmass of
about 66 km2 has been eroded from the BR, but the area increased to 77.15 km2 as per the
recent records [14] due to recurring reverine stresses of Lohit-Brahmaputra, Burhi-Dangori and
Dibru Rivers.
Fig 3. Landmass loss from Dibru-Saikhowa Biosphere Reserve due to Erosion.
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The BR is also taking the burden of human dependence which is also putting pressure in
many ways on the ecosystem of the BR. The number of households in the two forest villages,
Dadhiya and Laika in the core region has increased from 210 (in 1951) to 1500 at present. The
main source of livelihood of the community is cattle rearing, fishing and agriculture and milk
production is the major activity. There are about 24 Khutties (Milk producing centre) in the
area. A human population of more than 10,000 is depending on the surrounding forests of
Dibru-Saikhowa almost for everything. Out of the total population, 71% collects firewood and
other housing materials, 44% for food collection, and 29% for fishing and more than 32% of the
total population pastures the cattle every day in the grassland [15]. In the recent years, the cattle
population has increased many folds, which ultimately increased the pressure on the grassland
itself. 38 villages in the buffer also put additional pressure on the BR. The grassland of DSBR
is home for endemic bird species namely Marsh Babbler (Pellorneum pulestre) and Manipur
Bush Quail (Perdicula manipurensis). Raidang Grassland is one such grassland inhabited by
endemic bird species Black breasted Parrot Bill (Paradoxornis flavirostris) and due to heavy
grazing of the domestic animals, the population of the bird has been impacted [14]. Few years
back the BR revealed the presence of 80 feral horses but as per recent study only 40 remains.
According to the Assam State Forest report, about 3.7km2 of the BR have been encroached and
the original 0.5km2 of the settlement has been expanded to roughly 5km2 [15-17].
Overharvesting of wild resources, poaching, timber smuggling and trapping of wild
animals are also a serious threat to DSBR. Different body parts of endemic Bengal slow loris
Nycticebus bengalensis are used as medicine to heal many diseases among the local tribes of
NE India and this is causing serious threat to this particular species in the region [12]. The
wetland in the BR is threatened due to anthropogenic pressure like Unsustainable levels of
grazing by livestock and fishing using chemical that have adverse affect on the aquatic lives
namely one of the important macrophyte Euryale Ferox (locally known as nikori) has been
totally wiped out from the BR and commercially important Trapa once abundant is now
restricted to some wetlands in the DSBR. Fishing nets caused hindrance to the free movement
aquatic bird and other aquatic faunal species like Endangered Gangetic Dolphin. Another threat
which may not be very serious at present but can significantly affect the ecology of the BR in
longer runs is the encroachment of the land (especially the fertile river beds) by the peoples
settling down within the BR. The silt is brought in during high flows/floods, blocks parts of the
river channel, thereby creating semi-dry patches of land and the people living here started
filling this with sand or garbage for use. This alteration in the morphology can change the
character, functions, values and appearance of wetlands. In recent times, there is an increased in
agricultural activities, overharvesting of thatch grasses, firewood and logging for household
used and as source of income. Another threat is unsustainable sand mining from the riverbeds
which is creating disturbance to aquatic life and habitat.
Impact of different existing and upcoming hydropower projects can also be considered
as one of the potential threat to the diversity and ecosystem of the BR. The River Debang is one
of the major tributaries of the Brahmaputra river system, contributing with about 8.5% of the
annual discharge of river Brahmaputra. The Combined flow of Lohit River and Debang River
meets the Brahmaputra near Kobo Chapori of Dibru-Saikhiwa Complex. The Debang River
basin has a catchment area of 2775km2 in the flood plains of Assam. The three large mega
projects located in the close vicinity of the BR are Demwe Lower HEP (1750 MW) on Lohit
River, Dibang Multipurpose HEP (3000 MW) on Dibang River and Lower Siang HEP (2700
MW) on Siang River. These three hydroelectric power projects are seriously gigantic and
therefore, their impacts will also be significant. Drastic fluctuation of water during the lean
period will have an adverse impact on the Gangetic dolphin’s feeding and migration habit.
Smaller variations in water levels result in large variations in the spread of water area leading to
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submergence. The minimum discharge (6 cumec for about 18 hours in a day) during winter will
affect the river ecosystem as well as the ecology of the connecting wetlands.
There is proposal for the use of 114.267ha of non-forested land falling within 10km from
the boundary of Dibru-Saikhowa BR to be used for laying crude-oil and gas pipelines by Oil
India Ltd. This is also another upcoming issue that will have a high impact on the biodiversity
of the DSBR. There are risks during the drilling process and of leakage and spilling as well in
the wetlands, which will impact the ecology of the area and the livelihood of the people living
in the fringe area of the Biosphere Reserve.
b. Conservation Strategies for the DSBR under BR approach
Keeping in mind the main objectives towards the establishment of BRs, the following
strategies have been put forward for the conservation and preservation of DSBR:
• RET species: The DSBR is a home for many endemic and restricted range faunal
species and the BR becomes an isolated patch of land forming an island, a “River
Island”. Due to its isolated and unique location, there its prevalence of endemism and
river is an effective barrier for restricted movement and dispersal of many species
namely the large mammalian species and primate species. The Bengal slow loris
Nycticebus bengalensis which is endemic to South and South East Asia is distributed
in the north East Region of India only and the BR is one such critical habitat [12]. The
BR is the home for many globally threatened and rare fauna. The grassland of the BR
is an important habitat for Greater Adjutant, one of the rarest storks in the world,
Critically Endangered Bengal Florican Houbaropsis bengalensis and Whitewinged
wood duck,Cairina scutula . It is the breeding ground for Spot-billed Pelican
Pelecanus philippensis that survives in Assam, mainly along the Brahmaputra Valley,
especially in the Dibru-Saikhowa BR.
• The grassland as the feeding and sheltering ground: Dibru-Saikhowa is among the
most important wintering sites in Assam of the Black Stork Ciconia nigra, critically
threatened Adrea insignis and other such global migratory avian species. The
grasslands of DSBR are an important grazing ground for Asiatic wild buffalo. The
alluvial grassland of the DSBR is an unique habitat of Bengal florican and supports
number of globally threatened and endangered species like Great Indian one horned
rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis), pygmy hog (Parcula salvanius), Hispid hare
(Caprolagus hispidus).
• Potential Corridor: The DSBR serves as a vital route for the movement of Asiatic
elephant; Elephas maximus [18]. The Brahmaputra River islands, including the BR,
could be a potential corridor for dispersing tiger and major preying site in most of the
part of the Reserve [19].
• Important habitat and habitat recovery site: There are 97 locations which are identified
as Important Dolphin Habitat in the whole Brahmaputra River and of which 14 are
considered as threatened habitat of Ganges Dolphin Platanista gangetica which
includes the Saikhowa Balijan and Baluchar Balijan of DSBR [20]. The BR is the
prioritized site for the Conservation of critically endangered Indian Gharial Gavialis
gangeticus [21].
• Important of Wetlands : The presence of numerous wetlands in the DSBR which are in
the form of chapories, swamps, lakes, marshes and beels supporting wide range of
species, as an important feeding and breeding areas for wildlife and provide a stopping
place and refuge for waterfowls and other global migratory bird species as well.
Maguri-Motapung beel wetland Complex is an important bird area in the DSBR [22],
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has plenty of Magur (catfish), named after it and the beel has been the main source of
food and sustenance for the people who live around it as well. It nourishes, sustains
and protects life in myriad ways.
• The Aquatic Plants as medicine and food: About 65% of the macrophyte recorded
from the DSBR has medicinal value while several are used as food namely Euryle
ferox, trapa, sagittaria nymphoid spp. etc. and fodder also. Submerged Plants like
Hydrilla are the oxygen generator of aquatic system, they acts water purifiers.
• The Socio-economic condition of the indigenous Mishing community inhabiting inside
the BR needs to enhance for the better management of the BR.
Conclusion
The DSBR indeed is a treasure of huge faunal wealth and the exploration of this treasure
never ends. Forest exploitation is the commonest cause of habitat degradation and habitat loss.
Inaccessible terrain and difficult topography can play an important role in conservation of any
protected area [23], whereas the DSBR is quite accessible and therefore, the level of threats is
little redundant. The people living in and around any protected area are the real custodians of
the resources and hence their development needs to go parallel along with the ecosystem
development, Ecotourism can play an important role. Apart from the population pressure, the
DSBR is also facing the pressure of developmental activities mainly hydropower projects.
Although Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is there to mitigate the possible impacts of
any such developmental project, in actual practice it’s extremely difficult to cover all the
impacts and manage them under EIA only at once [24]. Thus for the protected areas, some
special plans/program and task forces should be implemented. The development, sustainability
and livelihood should go hand in hand for the effective conservation of natural resources. The
conservation strategies mentioned above have clearly defined the major course of action for
better conservation of the existing biodiversity of the DSBR and also for the integrated
development for the human and wildlife within the BR. Now, interlinking the results and
analysis on the species database and threats, the conservation strategies can be further
restructured for better implementation.
Wetlands are the most important habitat and are crucial for the survival of most of the
threatened bird species but unfortunately they are the most threatened habitats of the world and
DSBR is predominantly a wetland ecosystem. Wetlands in India support around 2400 species
and subspecies of birds. The Wetlands supports an appreciable assemblage of rare, vulnerable
or endangered species or subspecies of plant which serves as food, fodder and medicines at the
same time. This further stresses upon the importance for conservation and management of the
DSBR. Despite being an accessible landscape the DSBR still seems to be a data deficient region
when it comes to reliable database on damages caused by the seasonal floods. The BR faces
potential floods every year which certainly cause some damage to the wildlife but there is no
quantification of such information so far, thus further research is needed to study the DSBR.
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Received: August, 05, 2015
Accepted: April, 28, 2016
