The Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, nestled in the flood plains of River Brahmaputra in the Morigaon district, about 45 kilometres from Guwahati, the capital of Assam, India, is renowned for its significant rhinoceros population. Remarkably, this sanctuary boasts the highest density of rhinos worldwide and the second-highest concentration in Assam after the Kaziranga National Park, making it a vital conservation area.
The sanctuary spans just a 16 square kilometre area. However, it supports a thriving population of more than 90 rhinos, thus exceeding its predicted rhino-bearing capacity. This overpopulation makes Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary an exceptional location in terms of rhino density.
Flora, Fauna and Landscapes of Pobitora
The Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary isn’t just about rhinos. It also hosts a range of other mammals including Leopards, Leopard cats, Fishing cats, Jungle cats, Feral Buffalos, Wild pigs, and Chinese pangolins, among others. Additionally, Pobitora transforms into a birder’s paradise in winter, attracting thousands of waterfowl to its wetlands.
The sanctuary encompasses three distinct landscapes: forests, grasslands and water bodies, or beels, each offering unique habitats for its diverse inhabitants.
| Animal Species | Estimated Numbers |
|---|---|
| Rhinos | 90+ |
| Leopards | Data Not Available |
| Feral Buffalos | Data Not Available |
Akash Mk1S: A Marvel of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
In the realm of defence research, the Indian Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has made remarkable strides with its AKASH-MK-1S missile. Successfully test-fired from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, Odisha, the Akash Mk1S is an upgraded version of the existing AKASH missile, now equipped with an indigenous Seeker.
The Akash MK1S is a surface to air missile designed to neutralize advanced aerial targets. It combines command guidance and active terminal seeker guidance, making it a significant development under the Integrated Guided-Missile Development Programme (IGMDP), alongside other prominent missiles like Nag, Agni, Trishul, and Prithvi.
The Akash missile is a medium-range surface-to-air missile with multi-target engagement capability. This supersonic missile boasts a range of approximately 25 km and altitude of 18,000 meters, using high-energy solid propellant for the booster and ramjet-rocket propulsion for the sustainer phase.
Indigenous Seeker Technology: A Leap in Missile Technology
The Akash MK1S missile’s distinct feature is its Indian-made seeker technology, providing a designated trajectory for the missile to hit predetermined targets with precise accuracy. The mastery of this technology denotes a significant milestone in missile tech, significantly reducing India’s dependence on imports. Earlier, India was primarily dependent on Russia for seeker technology, highlighting the importance of this advancement.
