Which National Park is Known as the Last House of the White-Winged Wood Duck?

There are many beautiful national parks in India that protect animals, birds and nature. Some of these parks are very important because they give a safe home to rare and endangered species. One such park is known as the ‘‘Last House of White-winged Wood Duck.’‘ This names is given because the bird is now found in only a few places, and the park is its main home.

What is a National Park?

A national park is a special area of land or water chosen by the government to protect nature. It keeps safe the plants, animals, forests and other natural or important places. These parks help in saving wildlife, keeping the environment healthy and also allow people to enjoy, learn and do research in a clean and natural setting.

Number of National Parks in India

India has a total of 106 national parks. They are located in different parts of the country and together cover about 44,403 square kilometers. This is around 1.35% of India’s total land area. These parks help protect many kinds of plants and animals.

Last House of the White-Winged Wood Duck

Nameri National Park in Assam is known as the last house of the white-winged wood duck. This rare and shy bird lives in quiet forests and clean rivers, which Nameri provides. Because only a few of these ducks are left in the world and they are mostly found here, the park got this special name.

Why is Nameri National Park called the Last House of the White-Winged Wood Duck?

The white-winged wood duck is a very rare and shy bird that needs clean rivers and thick forests to survive. These ducks are mostly found in Northeast India, especially in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. Nameri National Park provides the perfect natural home for them with its clean rivers, dense greenery and peaceful environment. Since their numbers are very low and Nameri is one of the last places where they can be seen in the wild, it is lovingly called the last house of this special bird.

Rivers in Nameri National Park

Rivers play a very important role in the park’s ecosystem. The main river, Jia-Bharali, flows along the park’s southern edge and is the lifeline of the area. The Bor-Dikori River, a tributary of the Jia-Bharali, also runs nearby. Other smaller rivers like Diji, Dinai, Nameri, Khari and Upper Dikri flow from the hills of Arunachal Pradesh into the park. These rivers provide water for the animals and also create a healthy environment for birds and fish.

History of the Nameri National Park

• In 1978, the area was declared a reserve forest.
• In 1985, it was set up as the Nameri Sanctuary, with an area of 137 square kilometers.
• Later in 1998, it was declared a National Park and 75 more square kilometers were added.
• In 2000, Nameri was declared a Tiger Reserve, making it the second tiger reserve in Assam after Manas,

Earlier, this area was used for logging, which harmed the natural balance. But now, it is fully protected and the focus is on wildlife conservation.