SONAI RUPAI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY: BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOT OF ASSAM
18 August 2026
PRERNA FOR IAS
Mehnat Aapki, Guidance Humari
Roz ki Prelims Practice — Experts ke Saath
SONAI RUPAI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY: BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOT OF ASSAM
Context: Sonai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary recently came into focus after Assam’s Environment and Forest Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah inaugurated the newly constructed Kalamati Wildlife Range Office on 7 August 2026. The facility is intended to strengthen field-level forest administration, wildlife protection and sanctuary management.
Location and Background: The sanctuary is situated in Sonitpur district of Assam, along the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas. It covers about 220 sq km and was officially notified as a wildlife sanctuary on 4 September 1998. About 120 sq km of Sonai Rupai was later included as a satellite core of the Nameri Tiger Reserve in 2015, reflecting its wider landscape importance.
Sign up free to read the full article
Free accounts include 5 articles every month across current affairs, state notes, subject notes and more — upgrade anytime for unlimited access.
Explore Sonai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam—a 220 sq km biodiversity hotspot hosting Asian elephants, tigers, and rare White-winged Wood Ducks. Learn about conservation challenges and landscape connectivity.
Keywords
Sonai Rupai Wildlife SanctuaryAssam biodiversityNameri Tiger ReserveEastern Himalayaswildlife corridorsAsian elephant conservationhuman-elephant conflictSonitpur districtprotected areaslandscape connectivity