The great one horned rhino is commonly found in Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan and in Assam, India.” This is what I have read in my G.K books in school. Though from Assam, I never had the opportunity to see this majestic animal in its natural habitat, though I had seen it many times at the zoo. Every year we visit our homeland for more then two months during our summer vacation and my mother plans visit to Pobitora or Kaziranga. We had visited it many times during the summer but had to return because of flood during those months. Last year in December we had a short visit to our homeland and we did not miss the opportunity to visit a wildlife sanctuary.
We decided to visit Pobitora which is popularly known as “miniature Kaziranga” for its highest density of one horn rhino in Assam. It is situated in the flood plains of river Brahmaputra in the district of Morigaon and is around 1 hour from Guwahati. I along with my parents, brother, uncle and aunty started from our home. It took us nearly 1 hour 15 minutes to reach. I and my brother were excited to see so many jeeps and elephants ready to take the visitors for the safari. My parents decided for the Jeep safari as they found it safe with my naughty brother. Everyone was excited. Apart from the driver a security man with rifle went with us. The open jeep, the chirping of different birds, the greenery all around, the sight of migratory birds landing on the lake was so very mesmerizing and serene. As we proceeded deeper into the sanctuary, we saw lot of rhino’s. They stopped the car for us to take pictures. Once they took the car so near that we were very scared. They told us not to make sound and distract the rhino. They also informed us that rhino’s attack only when someone distract them from back and that all the Rhinos are vegetarian and Indian Rhinos mostly eat grass, fruits, leaves and crops. Their well developed upper lip helps them to eat out tall elephant grasses, which they like the best. It also helps them to pull out aquatic plants by the roots. Indian Rhinos usually prefer to roam around in the morning and evening hours to avoid the heat of the day and live for about 40 years. My desire to see the majestic rhino in its natural habitat was fulfilled. We saw a total of eight rhino’s.
When we entered the sanctuary, the security uncle informed us that Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary is a birding paradise. Our driver stopped the car and the security uncle could show the birds, tell their names and give more information. We saw birds like seven sister , kingfisher, spotted barbet, parakeet, bee eater, storks, yellow footed green pigeon, woodpecker, egret, Siberian stonechat, black headed oriole, bar headed goose, black breasted weaver, pied myna to name a few. Apart from many varieties of birds residing in the sanctuary, huge numbers of migratory birds descend on the parks lakes and marshy areas during winters, including greylag geese, ruddy shelduck, gadwall, falcated duck, red-crested pochard, northern shoveler and many more. This area is identified as an important bird area in the country by Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS). About 190 bird species have been recorded in the Pobitora Reserve Forest. Small colourful birds moving around in the trees, the varieties of chirping of birds took me to a different world, a beautiful pristine unpolluted world. We tried to capture the beautiful birds and sounds on our camera and mobile phones.
This trip will be a memorable one with one of my wishes been fulfilled.
 | Riddhima Bora,Class 5, FAIPS |