Guwahati: The Assam government has designated Behali Reserved Forest (BRF) as a wildlife sanctuary.
The BRF has been the last remaining semi-evergreen forest in Assam’s Biswanath district since 1917. It was home to roughly 950 species and covered an area of about 60 square kilometres.
As per the notification, “The Governor of Assam hereby appoints the Deputy Commissioner of Biswanath District to act as a Collector under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, to inquire into and determine the existence, nature, and extent of rights of any person in or over the land comprised within the limits described in the Schedule,”
Nature lovers and animal campaigners have long demanded that Behali Reserve Forest be designated as a wildlife sanctuary.