Guwahati: The Indian peafowl (Pavo cristatus) has been officially recorded for the first time at Orang National Park and Tiger Reserve, Assam Environment and Forest Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah said on Monday.
The bird was photographed inside the protected area by wildlife photographer Nejib Ahmed and cinematographer Chandan Saikia, providing photographic confirmation of earlier sightings reported by frontline forest personnel near the Rowmari and Hazaribagh Anti-Poaching Camps.
Baruah described the documentation as a significant addition to the biodiversity records of Orang and Assam.
He said the latest record highlights the ecological diversity of the protected area and underscores the role of forest staff, wildlife photographers and nature enthusiasts in documenting the state’s wildlife.
According to the minister, the presence of the Indian peafowl adds to the diversity of Orang’s wildlife and strengthens the need for continued efforts to protect and study the region’s natural heritage.