Ganges River Dolphin (Platanista gangetica) is a species of River Dolphin found in freshwater rivers of Nepal, India, and Bangladesh. In India, it is distributed in seven states namely, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal. The Ganges River Dolphin has a greyish brown stocky body with a long thin snout, rounded belly and large flippers. As its eye lacks a lens, this species is also referred to as the ‘blind dolphin’. Being a mammal, the Ganges River dolphin cannot breathe in the water and so has to surface every 30-120 seconds. This animal is referred as ‘Sihu’ in Assamese because of the sound it produces when breathing. It usually lives in small groups. Ganges River Dolphin feeds on fish and invertebrates, such as prawns, catfish, freshwater sharks, gobies and carp. The species was once a common sight in the Brahmaputra River system including its major tributaries. But the population has declined in the past decade due to habitat loss and degradation, fisheries bycatch and pollution. A survey conducted in 2005 by ‘Aranyak’ recorded altogether 250 dolphins in the entire Brahmaputra Valley with 27 in Kulsi river (Kamrup), 26 in Subansiri (Lakhimpur) and 197 in Brahmaputra mainstream. It has been listed as endangered species in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The Assam Government adopted Sihu as State Aquatic Animal on 5th April, 2008.
State Aquatic Animal: Sihu (Ganges River Dolphin)
State Aquatic Animal: Sihu (Ganges River Dolphin)
State Tree: Hollong (Dipterocarpus macrocarpus)
State Tree: Hollong (Dipterocarpus macrocarpus)
The Hollong tree (Dipterocarpus macrocarpus) is a common perennial evergreen tree found in South-East Asia including India. It is the tallest tree of Assam and it has been recognised as the ‘State Tree’ for being the most dominant species in the forest. Hollong grows at elevation up to 610 m from sea level. In India,the Hollong flowers appear from June-July to November and the fruits ripen from January to March. The timber of this tree is used for veneer, plywood, paper pulp and charcoal. An oleo- resin, extracted from Hollong is used as a coat for waterproofing paper, as a varnish for boats, walls and furniture. The oleo- resin and the bark of the tree also have medicinal properties. This tree has a high demand in the shuttering and plywood sector, which has led to illegal felling in many parts. The Assam Government adopted Hollong as State Tree on 4th April, 2003.
Kopou phul (English name: Foxtail Orchid, Scientific name: Rhynchostylis retusa) is an exotic blooming orchid found in Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and India. In India, this is one of the common Orchid species. The plant is erect with six to eight pairs of leaves oneither side of the short stem. The leaves are thick, long and narrow. The flowers, which appear in May- June, last for about three weeks. The 20-inch long inflorescence consists of a cluster of tiny, individual flowers, which is usually white or pink. This flower is considered as the state flower of both Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. For the people of Assam, this flower marks the festive season of Rongali.or Bohag Bihu. It is grown in clay pots or baskets with side draining holes or mounted on tree trunks in almost every household of Assam. This Orchid is an integral part of Bihu in Assam. Young girls put it up around their buns or khupa while performing Bihu Dance. Kopou Phul has been mentioned in Assamese folk songs and tales as the symbol of love and merriment and thus considered as a cultural icon in Assam. The Assam Government adopted Kopou phul as State Flower on 4th April, 2003.
State Flower : Kopou phul (Foxtail Orchid)
State Flower : Kopou phul (Foxtail Orchid)
State Bird
State Bird
State Bird
Deo haah (White-winged Wood Duck) The White-winged Duck or White winged Wood Duck (Asarcornis scutulata) is one of the largest species of duck. It has an overall black body, a white head with black spots. It also has white patches on the wings for which it has been named as White-Winged Wood Duck
in English. Due to its ghostly call which is a series of harsh honks and whistle, it is called ‘Deo Haah’ or Spirit Duck in Assamese. It is active mainly at dusk and dawn. It feeds on seeds, vegetation, fish and other animal matter, as well as on aquatic snails, spiders and insects. This Duck makes nest in tree holes. The female lays up to 16 eggs. It was historically widely distributed from northeastern India and Bangladesh, through South-East. But recently, it has undergone a dramatic decline due to destruction, degradation and disturbance of riverine habitats. It has been considered as Endangered on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List of Threatened Species. In 2002, the population of this species was estimated to be only 800. Among these, Assam is home to about 450 individuals. In Assam, the key protected areas for the White- winged Duck are Dibru-Saikhowa National Park, Dihing-Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary and Nameri National Park. The Assam Government adopted White-winged Duck as State Bird on 4th April, 2003.
‘O mur aponar desh’ or ‘O’ my dearest country’ is the State Song or State Anthem of Assam. The song was written by eminent litterateur Lakshminath Bezbaroa and attuned by Kamala Prasad Agarwala. It was first published in 1910 in an Assamese magazine named ‘Bahi’ and later in Lakshminath Bezbaroa’s poetry collection called ‘Kadamkoli’. This song was officially adopted as the Assam’s state song at ‘Asom Chatro Sannmilon’ (Assam Student Conference) held in Tezpur in 1927. From then on, this has been sung in public functions in Assam along with the national anthem. Assam government accorded the status of official State Song to this song on 15 December, 2013.