☰
×

Historic Sighting of Indian Peafowl in Assam's Orang National Park

In a significant development for Assam's wildlife, the Orang National Park has recorded its first-ever sighting of the Indian peafowl. This historic event was confirmed by wildlife photographer Nejib Ahmed and cinematographer Chandan Saikia, who captured images of the bird. The executive director of the park, Pradipta Baruah, highlighted the importance of this discovery, especially with the upcoming tourist season. Prior to this, there were no documented instances of the Indian peafowl in the park, with the nearest record being from Nunoi Wildlife Sanctuary. This sighting has excited birders and wildlife enthusiasts alike, leading to plans for continued monitoring in the area.
By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 28, 2026, 11:23 IST

Significant Avian Discovery in Assam

Indian peafowl (Pavo cristatus)

MANGALDAI, Sept 28: In a remarkable enhancement to Assam's bird diversity, the Orang National Park and Tiger Reserve has officially recorded its first sighting of the Indian peafowl (Pavo cristatus).

This landmark observation was made by wildlife photographer Nejib Ahmed and cinematographer Chandan Saikia, who managed to capture images of the bird within the park. Pradipta Baruah, the executive director of the national park, noted that forest staff had previously reported sightings of an unidentified bird resembling the Indian peafowl near the Rowmari and Hazaribagh anti-poaching camps (APCs). These reports led to the photographic confirmation of the species' presence.

Baruah expressed excitement about this discovery, stating, “This is fantastic news for Orang National Park, especially with the new tourist season approaching. The presence of the Indian peafowl highlights the park's ecological vitality and its diverse microhabitats.”

Before this sighting, there had been no recorded instances of the species in Orang. The closest known record was from Nunoi Wildlife Sanctuary in the Udalguri district. This discovery has sparked enthusiasm among bird watchers, researchers, and wildlife lovers, prompting forest authorities to plan ongoing monitoring in the area.