Rowmari-Donduwa Wetland Complex Proposed as Ramsar Site
Why in the news
The Rowmari-Donduwa wetland complex in Assam was put forward as an ideal candidate for designation as a Ramsar site, a wetland of international importance.
Key facts
- Location: inside Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary, part of the Kaziranga Tiger Reserve, Assam.
- Size: roughly 2.5 to 3 square kilometres of linked floodplain and marsh.
- Birds: the 2025 census recorded more than 47,000 birds across 75 to 88 species, including Knob-billed Duck, Black-necked Stork and Ferruginous Pochard.
- Bird diversity: reported to exceed that of existing northeastern Ramsar sites such as Deepor Beel and Loktak Lake.
Wildlife of the landscape
The broader Laokhowa-Burhachapori area shelters the Great Indian One-horned Rhinoceros, Royal Bengal Tiger, Asiatic Elephant and Asiatic Water Buffalo, plus otters and pangolins. The Brahmaputra supports Gangetic River Dolphins. Habitats include grassland, woodland, wetland and river islands.
About Ramsar sites
Wetlands are listed for rare wetland types or for supporting endangered species. India counted 94 Ramsar sites as of November 2025, the most in Asia.
Exam angle
- Note the Ramsar count (94) and that it was the highest in Asia at the time.
- Link the wetland with the Kaziranga landscape and Laokhowa sanctuary.
- Learn the Northeast’s existing sites: Deepor Beel and Loktak.