A Himalayan sanctuary once used for royal hunting now protects the world's rarest species.

Countries & Cities · Published 29 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Nestled in the Himalayan foothills, Manas National Park is a biodiversity powerhouse. Once a private hunting ground for royalty, this UNESCO World Heritage Site now serves as a critical refuge for endangered animals found nowhere else, including the world's only known population of pygmy hogs and the rare golden langur.

Manas National Park, located in the Indian state of Assam, occupies a unique position at the intersection of the Eastern Himalaya and the Brahmaputra Valley. Before becoming a protected area, the land was under the control of the Kingdom of Bhutan until the 1865 conflict led to its transfer to British India. For decades, it served as a hunting reserve for the royal family of Cooch Behar and the Raja of Gauripur. It was officially designated as a wildlife sanctuary in 1928, eventually expanding to its current 950 square kilometer footprint.

The park's ecological significance stems from its diverse landscape, which transitions from Sub-Himalayan mountain forests to vast alluvial grasslands. These grasslands, which cover nearly half of the park, are essential for species like the Indian rhinoceros, which was successfully reintroduced in 2007 following local extinction during the Bodo uprising. The park's riverine systems, fed by the Manas River, create a complex mosaic of habitats that support over 500 plant species and a massive array of fauna, including 55 mammal species and more than 450 types of birds.

Despite its natural wealth, the park has faced severe challenges. In 1992, UNESCO placed Manas on its list of World Heritage Sites in danger due to rampant poaching and regional instability. A concerted preservation effort eventually turned the tide, leading to its removal from the danger list in 2011. Today, the park remains a global stronghold for conservation, evidenced by ongoing projects like the release of pygmy hogs, which saw the local population reach 63 individuals by 2024. It remains a vital, if fragile, sanctuary for some of the planet's most threatened wildlife.

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