The Bam region of Cachar district in
southern Assam encompasses an area roughly bounded by Dholai, Sonai River, Lailapur,
the Rengti Hills, the Sonai River and the hills along the Assam–Mizoram border.
On the global biodiversity map, the area forms part of the Indo-Burma hotspot
with high diversity of birds and mammals. The Rukni River, the most important
tributary of the Sonai River, with its small tributaries of streams and
rivulets such as Singerkhal, Panchara, Dholakhal and Natachara, and Tiama (a tributary
of the Sonai River) drains the area. The Sonai River is a major tributary of
the Barak River.
The physiography of the region is
characterised by low hills and hillocks amidst plains. The habitat in the
region is also diverse, ranging from tropical wet evergreen ‘rainforest’ to the
wet savanna grassland (mostly encroached), as well as wetland, swamp forest and
tropical moist deciduous forests. The entire southern part is dominated by the Inner
Line Reserved Forest, part of Assam’s largest reserved forest. Owing to an increase
in the human population, the wildlife habitat has largely shrunk and also
become fragmented. Many species are either lost or nearing extinction.
I had the opportunity to carry out field
research in the forests in and around Bam in 1987 and 1988, and sporadically
during later years also. In fact, my first familiarisation with the call of
Hoolock gibbon was in Bam, and I heard the call from our home at Jamalpur
village in mid mid-1960s.
Wildlife
The Bam region has eight species of
primates, including the 'endangered' Hoolock gibbon. There are four species of macaques – Assamese, Rhesus,
Stump-tailed and the Pig-tailed. Then there is the primitive Slow loris
(locally called Sormia bilai). Capped
langur and Phayre's leaf monkey are also found. The Dhole or Asian wild dog has
become very rare, while the Himalayan or Asiatic black bear and the Malayan
sun bear are also very rare. Both bears are under serious threat from poaching
for their bile and gall bladder.
The Tiger has vanished from the region. The
last big cats probably vanished in the early 1990s. The Leopard and Clouded leopard (one
was killed near Khulichara in the 1980s)
are still found but in very small numbers, mostly in the Inner
Line Reserved Forest. Among the smaller cats, there are the Fishing, Asian golden, Marbled, Leopard and Jungle cats.
The last one also occurs near human habitation.
The herds of Asian elephants, which used
to occur till around the 1940s, were reduced to fewer individuals in later
years, and since around late 1960s, no permanent population has survived. Even a
stray occurrence was not reported since the late 1970s. Both the Javan and
Sumatran rhinoceroses may have existed in the past. In 1967, a rhinoceros, in
all probability a Sumatran species, was reported from the Punikhal area. The
Swamp deer and Wild water buffalo are extinct now, but survived till the 1950s.
The stray survivors of the Gaur or Indian ‘bison’ (locally called Methna) have also vanished around the 1980s.
The Barking deer or Muntjak and a few Sambars still survive, although the Hog
deer is perhaps extirpated. The Serow, locally called “Ram chagal,” is still met with occasionally in the hills of the
south. The Gangetic dolphin is 'endangered' and used to be reported in the past
during monsoon from near the confluence of the Sonai and Rukni rivers. It is
poached for its oil, while there are accidental deaths due to strangulation in
fishing nets. Among other mammals, there are the Asiatic or Golden jackal
(locally called Hiyal), the Crestless
Himalayan porcupine (locally called Seda),
Chinese pangolin (locally called Bonrou),
three species of otters, Large Indian civet (locally called Bagdash), Small Indian civet (locally
called Khatash), Masked palm civet,
Common palm civet (locally called Mekhom,
Bozro-batul or Shurma kota), Hog
badger (locally called Baliya sour)
and Yellow-throated marten.
The region has rich bird diversity with
more than 300 species, at least. Many rare and threatened species, such as the
White-winged Wood Duck, used to occur but no longer do. The Lesser Adjutant
Stork (locally called Solakak) is
still seen, but occasionally. The Pale-capped Pigeon perhaps still occurs. The
Swamp Francolin vanished in the late 1960s. The Green Peafowl has its range in
the area, although there is no specific report. The Greater Adjutant Stork (also
locally called Solakak) has not been
sighted for decades. The White-backed and Slender-billed Vultures were
plentiful even in the early 1990s; however, they are now threatened with
extinction. Four species of hornbills were once plentiful but are now very rare;
these are the Great Pied Hornbill (locally called Raj dhanesh), Oriental Pied Hornbill (locally called Kauwwa dhanesh), Wreathed Hornbill and
Asian Brown Hornbill. The last-named one was always relatively rare, and I saw
one in Sheorartol Tin-ghori in 1987.
Among reptiles, there are various species
of snakes, including the Burmese rock python and the King cobra, and monitor
lizards (Common or Bengal monitor and Water monitor). Monitor lizards are
locally called Irong.
Important Bird Areas
This region has an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area, namely, Inner Line (eastern
part). Such sites were identified after a thorough exercise following the guidelines/criteria
of Bird Life International, Cambridge (UK).
The future
The future of wildlife and their habitat
in the Bam region is bleak due to encroachment, felling of trees and
hunting/poaching. Many species have already been extirpated, while many are on
the verge of it. A massive awareness drive is required so that the vanishing
wilderness can be saved. Most of the wilderness areas are now partially accessible by all-weather
motorable roads. The local people, especially the students, should make
frequent visits to these areas so that they understand their rich heritage and
work for its preservation. The poachers/hunters should be dealt with firmly.
Community participation and support are urgently needed for the preservation of
the rich biodiversity of the Bam region.
…………………………………………………………………………………………
Dr Anwaruddin Choudhury,
IAS (Retd.), is from Jamalpur, Assam. He holds a PhD and a DSc from Gauhati
University. Dr Anwaruddin Choudhury is an internationally renowned
ornithologist and wildlife expert, known to his admirers as the Salim Ali of
Northeast India. You can search on Google to learn more about his profile
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