Biogeography and Biodiversity
Assam is one of the richest biodiversity zones in the world. There are a number of tropical rainforests in Assam, including the Dehing Patkai rainforest. Moreover, there are riverine grass lands, bamboo orchards and numerous wetland ecosystems. Many of these areas have been protected by developing national parks and reserved forests. The Kaziranga and Manas are the two World Heritage Sites in the region. The Kaziranga is the home for the rare Indian Rhinoceros, while Manas is a tiger sanctuary.
Apart from the rhinoceros and the tiger, the spotted deer or chital / Futukihorina (Axix axix), the swamp deer or Dolharina (Cervus duvauceli duvauceli), the clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), the hoolock gibbon or Holoubandor, pygmy hog or Nol-gahori (Sus salvanis), the wild buffalo, the hispid hare, the golden langur (Chloropsis cochinchinensis), the golden cat, the giant civet, the binturong, the hog badger, the civet cat and the porcupine are all found in the state. Moreover, there are abundant numbers of Gangetic dolphins, mongooses, giant squirrels and pythons.
A few of the major birds in Assam are: the bluthroated barbet or hetuluka (Megalaima asiatica), the white-winged wood duck or deuhnah (Cairina scultulata), the ring-tailed fishing eagle or kuruwa (Haliaeetus leucorythus), the great pied hornbill or rajdhonesh (Buceros bicornis homrai), the Himalayan golden-backed three-toed woodpecker or barhoituka (Dinopium shorii shorii), and the migratory pelican.
Assam is also known for orchids and also for valuable plant species and forest products.
Read more about this topic: Physical Geography Of Assam