World Heritage Identification Number: 338
World Heritage since: 1985
Category: Natural Heritage
WHE Type: Protected Areas & National Parks
Transboundary Heritage: No
Endangered Heritage: No
Country: 🇮🇳 India
Continent: Asia
UNESCO World Region: Asia and the Pacific
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Manas Wildlife Sanctuary: A Biodiverse Haven in the Himalayan Foothills
The Manas Wildlife Sanctuary, nestled in the picturesque foothills of the Himalayas, presents a captivating tapestry of diverse landscapes that seamlessly blend wooded hills, alluvial grasslands, and tropical forests. This enchanting expanse, located in the northeastern state of Assam, India, has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985 due to its exceptional biodiversity, striking scenery, and rich variety of habitats.
More to come…UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site
On a gentle slope in the foothills of the Himalayas, where wooded hills give way to alluvial grasslands and tropical forests, the Manas sanctuary is home to a great variety of wildlife, including many endangered species, such as the tiger, pygmy hog, Indian rhinoceros and Indian elephant.
UNESCO Justification of the World Heritage Site
Criterion (vii): Manas is recognized not only for its rich biodiversity but also for its spectacular scenery and natural landscape. Manas is located at the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas. The northern boundary of the park is contiguous to the international border of Bhutan manifested by the imposing Bhutan hills. It spans on either side of the majestic Manas river flanked in the east and the west by reserved forests. The tumultuous river swirling down the rugged mountains in the backdrop of forested hills coupled with the serenity of the alluvial grasslands and tropical evergreen forests offers a unique wilderness experience.
Criterion (ix): The Manas-Beki system is the major river system flowing through the property and joining the Brahmaputra river further downstream. These and other rivers carry an enormous amount of silt and rock debris from the foothills resulting from the heavy rainfall, fragile nature of the rock and steep gradients of the catchments. This leads to the formation of alluvial terraces, comprising deep layers of deposited rock and detritus overlain by sandy loam and a layer of humus represented by bhabar tracts in the north. The terai tract in the south consists of fine alluvial deposits with underlying pans where the water table lies near to the surface. The area contained by the Manas-Beki system gets inundated during the monsoons but flooding does not last long due to the sloping relief. The monsoon and river system form four principal geological habitats: Bhabar savannah, Terai tract, marshlands and riverine tracts. The dynamic ecosystem processes support broadly three types of vegetation: semi-evergreen forests, mixed moist and dry deciduous forests and alluvial grasslands. The dry deciduous forests represent an early stage in succession that is constantly renewed by floods and is replaced by moist decidous forests away from water courses, which in turn are replaced by semi evergreen climax forests. The vegetation of Manas has tremendous regenerating and self-sustaining capabilities due to its high fertility and response to natural grazing by herbivorous animals.
Criterion (x): The Manas Wildlife Sanctuary provides habitat for 22 of India’s most threatened species of mammals. In total, there are nearly 60 mammal species, 42 reptile species, 7 amphibians and 500 species of birds, of which 26 are globally threatened. Noteworthy among these are the elephant, tiger, greater one-horned rhino, clouded leopard, sloth bear, and other species. The wild buffalo population is probably the only pure strain of this species still found in India. It also harbours endemic species like pygmy hog, hispid hare and golden langur as well as the endangered Bengal florican. The range of habitats and vegetation also accounts for high plant diversity that includes 89 tree species, 49 shrubs, 37 undershrubs, 172 herbs and 36 climbers. Fifteen species of orchids, 18 species of fern and 43 species of grasses that provide vital forage to a range of ungulate species also occur here.
Encyclopedia Record: Manas National Park
Manas National Park is a national park, Project Tiger reserve, and an elephant reserve in Assam, India. Located in the Himalayan foothills, it borders the Royal Manas National Park in Bhutan. The park is known for its rare and endangered endemic wildlife such as the Assam roofed turtle, hispid hare, golden langur and pygmy hog. It also hosts the only known population of pygmy hogs in the world. Manas is also famous for its population of the wild water buffalo. Because of its exceptional biodiversity, scenery, and variety of habitats, Manas National Park is a biosphere reserve and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Additional Site Details
Area: 39,100 hectares
Number of Components: 1
(ix) — Outstanding example representing ecological and biological processes
(x) — Contains most important habitats for biodiversity
Coordinates: 26.725 , 91.03055556
IUCN World Heritage Outlook
The 2025 Conservation Outlook on Manas Wildlife Sanctuary reports the following assessment:
Source: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) · View assessment
Image
© Pankaj from Bangalore, India, CC BY-SA 2.0 Resized from original. (This derivative is under the same CC BY-SA license.)
World Heritage Research
Discover scientific research and academic studies that deepen our understanding of Manas Wildlife Sanctuary from its history and significance to its conservation, management, and contemporary challenges.
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Behaviour and habitat preferences of translocated rhinos (Rhinoceros unicornis) at Manas National Park, Assam, India
A study on translocated greater one-horned rhinos (Rhinoceros unicornis) at Manas National Park, Assam, India, found that these animals successfully adapted to their new environment without significant behavioral differences from wild populations. Between 2008 and 2021, 22 rhinos were reintroduced as part of the Indian Rhino Vision 2020 program, with post-release monitoring revealing stable activity patterns, home ranges, and habitat preferences. The park's slightly higher elevation reduced flood risks compared to source sites like Kaziranga National Park and Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary. By 2022, the population had grown to 50 individuals, including 38 calves born post-reintroduction, demonstrating the effectiveness of well-managed translocation schemes in rhino conservation.
Dutta, D. K. (2023). Behaviour and habitat preferences of translocated rhinos (Rhinoceros unicornis) at Manas National Park, Assam, India. Pachyderm, 64, 92–106. https://doi.org/10.69649/pachyderm.v64i.524
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Towards a new rhino conservation landscape in Assam for the increasing population of the greater one-horned rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis)
A recent census in Assam reveals a significant increase in the population of greater one-horned rhinos (Rhinoceros unicornis), with notable growth also observed in their habitat within protected areas like Kaziranga, Manas, and Orang National Parks. This upward trend is attributed to enhanced anti-poaching measures and improved vigilance, which have drastically reduced poaching incidents. Additionally, the study highlights the economic benefits for local communities living near these parks, as tourism-related activities such as motels, safari vehicles, and souvenir shops have flourished, providing employment opportunities. The increase in tourism has also boosted the livelihoods of residents in cities like Guwahati, Jorhat, and Tezpur. While the study acknowledges the positive developments, it cautions about the need for controlled tourism, particularly in Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary during peak seasons.
Choudhury, A. (2022). Towards a new rhino conservation landscape in Assam for the increasing population of the greater one-horned rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis). Pachyderm, 63, 179–182. https://doi.org/10.69649/pachyderm.v63i.488
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A systematic expert‐based assessment of progress and priorities for conservation of the Bengal Florican Houbaropsis bengalensis
A systematic expert-based assessment reveals that while conservation efforts for the Bengal Florican (Houbaropsis bengalensis) have successfully reduced hunting threats, significant challenges remain in addressing predation by dogs and power line impacts. The study identifies priority threats across key sites, including Manas Wildlife Sanctuary, Kaziranga National Park, and Stoung-Chikreang Bengal Florican Conservation Area (BFCA), where conservation achievements are notable but require scaling up. It proposes a framework for collaboration to tackle these threats, emphasizing the critical role of D'Ering Wildlife Sanctuary in India. By replicating good practices from high-performing sites, the study suggests that the extinction risk of the Bengal Florican can be mitigated if priority actions are implemented effectively.
Mahood, S. P., Jha, R. R. S., Rahmani, A. R., Thakuri, J. J., Chamnan, H., Bhargava, R., Lahkar, B. P., Brahma, N., Narwade, S. S., Pandey, N., Gore, K., Gadhvi, D., Virak, S., & Garnett, S. T. (2019). A systematic expert‐based assessment of progress and priorities for conservation of the Bengal Florican Houbaropsis bengalensis. Conservation Science and Practice, 1(12). Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.121
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A study on the behavior and colonization of translocated Greater One-horned Rhinos Rhinoceros unicornis (Mammalia: Perissodactyla: Rhinocerotidae) during 90 days from their release at Manas National Park, Assam India
A remarkable 89% of Greater One-horned Rhinos translocated from Kaziranga National Park and Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary to Manas National Park exhibited consistent dispersal patterns, moving in the same direction post-release. This study, part of India's Rhino Vision 2020 initiative, used radio tracking and direct observation over 90 days to document their behavioral adaptation and colonization behavior. Notably, rhinos from Pobitora showed greater straying compared to those from Kaziranga, suggesting site-specific influences on dispersal. The findings offer valuable insights for future rhino translocation strategies, aiming to enhance conservation efforts in Manas Wildlife Sanctuary.
Dutta, D. K., & Mahanta, R. (2015). A study on the behavior and colonization of translocated Greater One-horned Rhinos Rhinoceros unicornis (Mammalia: Perissodactyla: Rhinocerotidae) during 90 days from their release at Manas National Park, Assam India. Journal of Threatened Taxa, 7(2), 6864–6877. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.o4024.6864-77
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