Raimona National Park: Assam's Biodiversity Hotspot on the Indo-Bhutan Border

 

Introduction

Nestled in the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas along the India-Bhutan border lies a relatively young but ecologically priceless protected area—Raimona National Park. Declared Assam's sixth national park in 2021, this 422-square-kilometre sanctuary has quickly emerged as a cornerstone of biodiversity conservation in Northeast India.

Home to the endangered Golden Langur—the mascot of the Bodoland region—Raimona is a treasure trove of rare wildlife, vibrant birdlife, and stunning floral diversity. But the park has recently made headlines for a more troubling reason: a fatal firing incident involving forest personnel and suspected timber poachers. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about Raimona National Park—its location, rivers, flora and fauna, strategic conservation significance, and the latest developments.

Main Article

Latest News: Firing Incident at Athiabari Range

On 29 July 2026, a suspected timber poacher was killed in an exchange of fire with forest guards inside the Athiabari Range of Raimona National Park.

According to Kokrajhar Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Mustafa Ali Ahmed, the incident occurred around 4:00 PM when a forest patrol team spotted four to five individuals allegedly felling large trees deep within the protected forest. When the forest personnel approached the group, the suspects opened fire, prompting the guards to retaliate. The group fled, and the forest team later recovered a body from the scene.

The deceased was identified as Phungkha Basumatary, a resident of a nearby village in Kokrajhar, believed to be in his early twenties. According to the DFO, Basumatary was "a regular offender" wanted in multiple cases of timber smuggling and was also allegedly involved in poaching animals using firearms.

The incident triggered tension in the nearby Sarlpara area, with some villagers vandalising the local forest office and a government vehicle. Police recovered the body on Wednesday morning and sent it to Kokrajhar Medical College for postmortem examination. Kokrajhar Superintendent of Police Akshat Garg confirmed that an investigation is underway to determine the exact circumstances leading to the exchange of fire.

Note: This incident is part of a broader pattern of recent enforcement actions in the park. Just weeks earlier, in mid-July 2026, intelligence-led raids led to the arrest of three individuals linked to wildlife crimes, including the illegal hunting of spotted deer.

Location and Geography

Where is Raimona National Park?

Raimona National Park is located in the westernmost part of Assam, within the Kokrajhar district of the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR). It lies approximately 253 kilometres from Guwahati and about 53 kilometres from Kokrajhar town.

The park is spread across the Gossaigaon subdivision of Kokrajhar district and covers a total area of 422 square kilometres (163 square miles). Its geographical coordinates are approximately 26.65972°N, 89.97611°E.

Elevation and Terrain

The park's elevation ranges from 85 metres to 1,042 metres above sea level, creating a diverse topography that supports multiple forest types.

International Border and Transboundary Landscape

Raimona National Park lies along the India-Bhutan international border at the southern foothills of the Eastern Himalayas. It forms part of a transboundary conservation landscape exceeding 2,400 square kilometres, sharing contiguous forest patches with:

• Phibsoo Wildlife Sanctuary (Bhutan)
• Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park (Bhutan)

Additionally, the park connects with the Buxa Tiger Reserve in West Bengal, creating a seamless ecological corridor across international boundaries.

Relationship with Manas Tiger Reserve

Raimona National Park encompasses the northern part of the Ripu Reserve Forest (508.62 sq km). This entire forest patch serves as the westernmost buffer to the Manas Tiger Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, making Raimona an integral component of one of India's most important tiger conservation landscapes.

Rivers Defining the Boundaries

Three major rivers serve as natural boundaries for Raimona National Park:

River	Boundary
Sankosh River	Western boundary (also forms part of the Assam-West Bengal inter-state border)
Saralbhanga River	Eastern boundary
Pekua River	Southern boundary

Both the Sankosh and Saralbhanga rivers are tributaries of the mighty Brahmaputra River.

Flora: A Botanical Paradise

Raimona National Park is a botanist's dream, harbouring approximately 380 species of plants. The park showcases remarkable vegetation diversity, with 11 to 12 different forest types, including:

• Moist sal forests
• Sub-Himalayan semi-evergreen forests
• Moist mixed deciduous forests
• Savannah forests
• Riverine forests
• Khoir-sisoo forests

The park flourishes with myriads of orchid species, tropical rainforest species, riverine grasslands, and numerous bamboo varieties. Wetland ecosystems further enrich the park's botanical wealth.

Fauna: A Haven for Rare and Endangered Species

The Star Attraction: Golden Langur

Raimona is most famous for being home to the Golden Langur (Trachypithecus geei), an endangered primate species found only in a small region of Northeast India and Bhutan. This strikingly beautiful monkey, with its cream-gold to bright golden fur, has been designated as the mascot of the Bodoland region.

Mammals

The park supports a rich diversity of mammalian species, including:

• Asian Elephant
• Bengal Tiger
• Clouded Leopard
• Indian Gaur (wild bison)
• Wild Water Buffalo
• Spotted Deer (white-spotted deer)
• Slow Loris
• Assamese Macaque
• Rhesus Monkey
• Chinese Pangolin
• Dhole (wild dog)
• Himalayan Black Bear

Avian Diversity

With 170 species of birds recorded, Raimona is a paradise for birdwatchers. The park is home to four to five species of hornbills, making it a critical habitat for these magnificent birds.

Butterflies and Reptiles

The park hosts more than 150 species of butterflies. In a remarkable discovery in April 2026, scientists identified a new species of bent-toed gecko near the park, named Cyrtodactylus raimonaensis, underscoring the park's status as a frontier for biodiversity research.

Historical and Cultural Significance

The Ripudwar Connection

Historically, the Raimona area was part of a region called Ripudwar—one of the traditional "dwars" or mountain passes connecting the plains of Assam with Bhutan. These passes were historically administered by officials appointed by Bhutanese rulers, reflecting the deep historical and cultural ties between the two regions.

A Migratory Route for Wildlife

The area has historically served as a migratory route for faunal species from the Himalayan Mountain, Indo-Malayan, and Indo-Chinese realms towards the west, and for Peninsular Indian realm species moving eastward. This makes Raimona a vital ecological corridor that has facilitated genetic exchange and species movement for millennia.

Declaration as a National Park

Raimona was declared a national park on 5 June 2021 (World Environment Day) by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The formal gazette notification was issued on 9 June 2021. It became Assam's sixth national park, joining the ranks of Kaziranga, Manas, Nameri, Orang, and Dibru-Saikhowa.

Conservation and Strategic Importance

Biodiversity Hotspot

Raimona National Park is part of the Eastern Himalaya Biodiversity Hotspot and the Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot. These are among the most biologically rich yet threatened regions on Earth.

Transboundary Cooperation

The park's connection with Bhutanese protected areas creates opportunities for regional cooperation in wildlife conservation between India and Bhutan. This transboundary approach is essential for protecting wide-ranging species like elephants and tigers that move across international borders.

Ecotourism and Sustainable Livelihoods

The park's declaration has opened new opportunities for ecotourism, scientific research, and biodiversity conservation. Tourism is already booming: vehicle entries into the park jumped from just 490 in 2023-24 to 1,818 in 2025-26—nearly a fourfold increase in two years. This growth can help generate sustainable livelihood options for local communities.

Protection and Enforcement

Authorities regularly conduct anti-poaching operations to protect wildlife from illegal activities. The July 2026 incidents—both the fatal shooting of a suspected poacher and the arrest of three wildlife offenders—demonstrate the intense pressure on the park's resources and the challenges faced by forest personnel in safeguarding this precious ecosystem.

Important Highlights

• Declaration: Became Assam's sixth national park on 5 June 2021
• Area: Covers 422 square kilometres (163 square miles)
• Location: Westernmost Assam, Kokrajhar district, Bodoland Territorial Region
• Elevation: Ranges from 85 metres to 1,042 metres above sea level
• Transboundary Link: Connects with Phibsoo Wildlife Sanctuary and Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park in Bhutan
• Buffer Zone: Serves as the westernmost buffer to Manas Tiger Reserve
• Rivers: Bounded by Sankosh (west), Saralbhanga (east), and Pekua (south)
• Flora: 380 plant species, 11-12 forest types, rich in orchids
• Fauna: Home to endangered Golden Langur (Bodoland mascot), tigers, elephants, clouded leopards, gaurs
• Birds: 170 recorded species, including 4-5 hornbill species
• Butterflies: Over 150 species
• Recent Discovery: New gecko species (Cyrtodactylus raimonaensis) identified in April 2026
• Tourism Growth: Vehicle entries increased from 490 (2023-24) to 1,818 (2025-26)
• Latest Incident: Fatal firing in Athiabari Range on 29 July 2026 involving suspected timber poacher

Why This News Matters

Raimona National Park represents the intersection of several critical issues facing modern India:

Biodiversity Conservation: As part of two global biodiversity hotspots, Raimona's protection is essential for safeguarding species found nowhere else on Earth, particularly the endangered Golden Langur.

Border Security and Transboundary Cooperation: The park's location along the India-Bhutan border makes it a unique laboratory for international conservation collaboration. The 2,400-square-kilometre transboundary landscape demonstrates how ecological concerns can transcend political boundaries.

Human-Wildlife Conflict and Enforcement: The July 2026 firing incident highlights the real-world tensions between conservation enforcement and local communities. As ecotourism grows and enforcement intensifies, balancing the needs of wildlife protection with community relations will be an ongoing challenge.

Economic Development: The dramatic surge in tourism—nearly a fourfold increase in vehicle entries in just two years—shows that protected areas can drive local economic growth while preserving biodiversity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Where is Raimona National Park located?
Raimona National Park is located in the Kokrajhar district of Assam, within the Bodoland Territorial Region, along the India-Bhutan border at the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas.

Q2. When was Raimona declared a national park?
It was declared Assam's sixth national park on 5 June 2021 (World Environment Day), with the formal gazette notification issued on 9 June 2021.

Q3. Which animal is the mascot of the Bodoland region?
The Golden Langur (Trachypithecus geei), an endangered primate species found in Raimona National Park, is the mascot of the Bodoland region.

Q4. Which rivers form the boundaries of Raimona National Park?
The Sankosh River forms the western boundary, the Saralbhanga River forms the eastern boundary, and the Pekua River forms the southern boundary.

Q5. What recent incident occurred at Raimona National Park?
On 29 July 2026, a suspected timber poacher named Phungkha Basumatary was killed in an exchange of fire with forest guards in the Athiabari Range of the park. The incident occurred during a patrol operation against illegal tree felling.

Conclusion

Raimona National Park stands as a testament to the extraordinary biodiversity of Northeast India and the critical importance of transboundary conservation. From the endangered Golden Langur swinging through its sal forests to the 170 species of birds calling its canopy home, this 422-square-kilometre sanctuary is a natural treasure of global significance.

Yet the park also faces profound challenges. The recent firing incident in the Athiabari Range underscores the relentless pressure from illegal logging and poaching that threatens the park's ecological integrity. As tourism booms and enforcement intensifies, finding a sustainable balance between conservation, community welfare, and security will be essential.

Raimona's story is ultimately one of hope—a young national park already making its mark on the global conservation map, home to species found nowhere else, and a bridge between nations in the shared mission of protecting our planet's irreplaceable biodiversity.