Bura Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary (BCWS) is located in Assam, a north eastern state of India. More specifically, this wildlife sanctuary is situated on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra River, north of Sonitpur district. Department of Environment and Forests of Assam is currently the managing body of this wildlife sanctuary.

History of Bura-Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary
History of Bura-Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary relates to a forest area spread near Sonitpur that was first declared a reserved forest in the year 1974 by the government of Assam. Later, the reserved forest area was upgraded as a sanctuary or a protected area called the Bura- Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary in the year 1995, with the aim to provide shelter to the various species of flora and fauna in the sanctuary.

Geography of Bura-Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary
Globally, Bura-Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary can be pinpointed at coordinates 26 degrees 51 minutes 57 seconds north and 92 degrees 50 minutes 53 seconds east. This wildlife sanctuary is spread over an area of about 44.06 square kilometers. This sanctuary experiences moderate climate. The area has high humidity. Also, heavy rainfall is a common phenomenon in the sanctuary area during the monsoons.

Flora of Bura-Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary
Bura-Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary is enveloped and adorned by wet alluvial grasslands, riparian and semi-evergreen forests on the northern bank of the Brahmaputra River. It is a home to different species of plants and trees with high medicinal and commercial values.

Fauna of Bura-Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary
Bura-Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary also protects different species of wild animals. Some of them are Indian Rhinoceros, Tiger, Leopard, Wild Buffalo, Hog Deer, Wild Pigs and Elephants. Bura-Chapori also houses different species of reptiles and fishes in the water bodies spread around the sanctuary.

Avifauna of Bura-Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary
Different species of resident as well as migratory birds have been recorded in the Bura-Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary. Resident birds are known to be those birds which reside in the sanctuary all the year round, whereas migratory birds are known to be those birds which visit the sanctuary from other places, more specifically, during a particular season. Some of the resident birds are Black Necked Strok, Mallard, Open Billed Stork, Teal and Wisteling Duck. This sanctuary is known to be an ideal habitat for the Bengal Florican, an endangered bird species in India. Migratory bird species have been traced in this sanctuary during the winter season. An example of migratory bird that visits this park is ferruginous ducks.

Tourism of Bura-Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary
Bura-Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary can be called the tourism product of Assam. This sanctuary invites tourists, who will be able to vividly experience the flora, fauna and other attractive features of the sanctuary through the wildlife safari tours. These tours will also provide a complete view of the sanctuary. They are arranged by the management of the sanctuary itself and are considered to be the most popular feature of the sanctuary. This sanctuary is blessed with scenic beauty and is therefore capable of attracting several nature lovers from all around the world. The tourists can therefore come and visit the sanctuary to spend quality time on the lap of nature. The sanctuary is a coveted haunt for bird lovers who sit in the wilderness and watch the colorful and disciplined birds go about their daily lives.

Visiting Information
The time period between November to March is generally considered to be the best time to plan a tour to Bura-Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary. It is recommended to the tourists to contact the officials of the sanctuary for complete information on accommodation, tariff, safari packages, entry timings, fee and other facilities.

The nearest airport to Bura-Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary is Tezpur Airport. This airport is located at a distance of about 25 km (15.53 miles) from the wildlife sanctuary. The nearest railway station to Bura-Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary is Bhalukpong Railway Station. This railway station is located at a distance of about 30 km (18.65 miles) from the wildlife sanctuary. Roads leading to Bura-Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary are motorable via buses and taxis. Bus services are available from all places in Assam state. Tezpur Bus Stand is approximately 35 km (21.74 miles) away from the sanctuary. Bura-Chapori is located at a distance of about 40 km from Tezpur town and about 181 km from Guwahati. It is situated approximately 40 km (24.85 miles) away from Sonitpur in Assam.

Related Articles:
Indian Wildlife Sanctuaries
Indian National Parks
Indian Flora and Fauna
Bird Sanctuaries in India
Indian Biosphere Reserves