The biodiversity of Assam (), a state in North-East India, makes it a biological hotspot with many rare and endemic plant and animal species. The greatest success in recent years has been the conservation of the Indian rhinoceros at the Kaziranga National Park, but a rapid increase in human population in Assam threatens many plants and animals and their natural habitats. The rhinoceros, tiger, deer or chital / futukihorina (Axis axis), swamp deer or dolhorina (Cervus duvauceli duvauceli), clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), hoolock gibbon, pygmy hog or nol-gahori (Porcula salvania), hispid hare, golden langur (Trachypithecus geei), golden cat, giant civet, binturong, hog badger, porcupine, and civet are found in Assam. Moreover, there are abundant numbers of Gangetic dolphins, mongooses, giant squirrels and pythons. The largest population of wild water buffalo anywhere is in Assam. The major birds in Assam include the blue-throated barbet or hetuluka (Megalaima asiatica), white-winged wood duck or deuhnah (Asarcornis scultulata), Pallas's fish eagle or kuruwa (Haliaeetus leucoryphus), great pied hornbill or rajdhonesh (Buceros bicornis homrai), Himalayan golden-backed three-toed wood-pecker or barhoituka (Dinopium shorii shorii), and migratory pelican. Assam is also known for orchids and for valuable plant species and forest products. Protected areas in Assam There are several protections in Assam, including several national parks, in particular in the Brahmaputra Valley. National parks Manas National Park (560 km2) Kaziranga National Park (320 km2) Orang National Park (110 km2) Nameri National Park (90 km2) Dibru-Saikhowa National Park (490 km2) Wildlife sanctuaries Garampani Wildlife Sanctuary Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary Bornadi Wildlife Sanctuary Chakrashila Wildlife Sanctuary Bura Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary Pani Dihing Wildlife Sanctuary Hollongapar Wildlife Sanctuary Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary Sonai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary Bherjan-Borajan-Padumoni Wildlife Sanctuary East Karbi-Anglong Wildlife Sanctuary Nambor Wildlife Sanctuary Marat Longri Wildlife Sanctuary Nambor - Doigrung Wildlife Sanctuary Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary Borail Wildlife Sanctuary Deepar Beel Wildlife Sanctuary Bordoibam Bilmukh Bird Wildlife Sanctuary (Proposed) North K. Anglong Wildlife Sanctuary (Proposed) See also Brahmaputra Valley semi-evergreen forests Physical geography of Assam Rhino poaching in Assam Notes References Biodiversity of Assam: Status Strategy & Action Plan for Conservation, eds A K Bhagabati, M C Kalita, S Baruah, Eastern Book House, New Delhi (2006) External links Assam Biota of Assam Tourism in Assam