Kokrajhar, May 2: The Centre has declared the Chirang-Ripu sanctuary in south Assam’s Kokrajhar district as an elephant reserve.

The forest department has registered a 10 per cent increase in the number of elephants in the 2,600 square km forest reserve since 1997, which now houses, at least, 650 elephants.

In its entirety, the sanctuary covers Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, Barpeta, Nalbari, Kamrup and Darrang. The area falls under seven forest divisions comprising Kachugaon, Haltugaon, Aie Valley, Manas Project Tiger, north Kamrup, Mangaldoi and Darrang wildlife forest divisions.

In the north, the reserve begins from the left bank of the Sankosh river on the Indo-Bhutan international boundary.

It runs eastwards till the left bank of the Pagladia river, which is the northeastern-most point of the Subankantha forest reserve. In the south, the boundary runs along the southern notified boundary of Subankantha till the Sankosh river. The reserve also includes four separateareas, the largest comprising contiguous forest areas in Barnadi wildlife sanctuary.

The area, along with Darrang forest reserve and Bhairabkunda reserve forest, have contiguity with the remaining reserve forests inside Bhutan.

The last disjunct pocket forming a part of the reserve is the More-Pagladiya reserve forest. Officials said a rescue centre for wildlife animals is imperative as every year elephant calves are swept away by floods.

“Though we manage to rescue them sometimes, lack of funds and proper medical facilities has made the task difficult,” an official said.

Sources said that the status of an elephant reserve would entitle the sanctuary to more funds, which would be utilised to protect the elephants.