Discover Raimona National Park in Assam's Kokrajhar district—home to the endangered Golden Langur, 170 bird species, and a critical transboundary
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.
