Deepar Beel Wildlife Sanctuary

Deepar Beel Wildlife Sanctuary in Kamrup Metropolitan, Assam, is a large, permanent freshwater lake formed as an oxbow of the Brahmaputra River near Guwahati city. Covering about 4.1 square kilometers as a designated sanctuary (though it expands up to around 40 square kilometers in monsoon), it is one of the largest and most ecologically important wetlands in the Brahmaputra valley.

The sanctuary was established in 1989 and designated a Ramsar site in 2002 due to its high biological and environmental significance. Deepar Beel serves as a crucial habitat for over 150 bird species, including many migratory and endangered birds, and supports a variety of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and aquatic life. It functions as a natural flood retention basin for Guwahati, contributes to groundwater recharge, flood regulation, and climate mitigation. The wetland also sustains local communities that depend on its natural resources for livelihood.

Conservation efforts have led to the declaration of an Eco-Sensitive Zone around the sanctuary to address environmental threats and preserve its rich biodiversity and ecological functioning. The sanctuary is recognized internationally as an Important Bird Area and continues to be vital for maintaining regional ecological balance.