Orang National Park

State: Assam
Location: Darrang and Sonitpur On the north bank of the Brahmaputra.
Area: 78.81 sq kms
Best time to visit: November To March
Nearest Town: Tezpur (31km)

The park is located on the north bank of the river Brahmaputra and covers an area of 72 sq. km. Orang is a minute Kaziranga. It is about 32 kms from Tezpur and 140 kms from Guwahati. The Park is celebrated for its natural picturesque beauty that snatches the concentration of the visitors / tourists to it.

Fauna
The park has a very thick population of tiger (Panthera tigris) (estimated 25 no in 75 sq km). The population of the Great Indian One Horned Rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis) was expected 97 in 1993, second highest. However, due to unabated poaching during 1994-1998 the number of rhino has gone down to less than 50 in 2000. The park also has predictable 45-60 Bengal Florican (Houbaropsis bengalensis). Among other mammals Blind Gangetic Dolphin, Indian Pangolin, Rhesus Macaque, Bengal Porcupine, Indian Fox, Small Indian Civet, Otter, Leopard cat, Fishing cat are to be noted. The Avian fauna of the park is also very rich. 47 families of which Anatidae, Accipitridae, Addenda, Ardeiae are represented with maximum number of species represent it. Important avifauna are Bengal Florican (Houbaropsis bengalensis), Spot-billed Pelican (Pelicanus philippensis), Black-necked Stork (Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus), National Park OrangGreater Adjutant Stork (Leptoptilos dubius), Lesser Adjutant (Leptoptilos javanicus), Wooly-necked Stork (Ciconia episcopus), Rudy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea), Gadwall (Anas strepera), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), Pintail (Anas acuta), Pallas's Fishing Eagle (Haliaeetus leucoryphus) and a number of others including forest and grassland birds. Among reptiles Indian Rock Python, Cobra, 9 species of turtles are known till now. (Reptile diversity is not well known.) Amphibian diversity is very high in the park. 19 species of amphibians have been identified yet, of which three species are new to science.

Flora
The floral wealth of the park is very important. There are planted forest, Natural forest, Non aquatic grass/plants to be found among the macrroflora of the park. Planted forest patches are composed of species like Dalbergia sisoo, Bombax ceiba, Acacia catechu, Terminalia myriocarpa, Anthrocephalus kadamba, etc. The Natural Forest species are like Bombax ceiba, Dalbergia sisoo, Sterculia villosa, Trewia nudiflora, Zizypphus jujuba, Litsaea polyantha, etc. Among the non-aquatic grassland species the prominent are Phragmites karka, Arundo donax, Imperata cylindrical, Saccarum spp. etc. The aquatic grass/plants species are Andropogon spp., Ipomea reptans, Enhydra flushians, Nymphia spp., Wichornia spp. etc.