| Lawkhuwa Wildlife Sanctuary | |
|---|---|
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area) | |
 Sunset in a flood affected zone of Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary | |
| Location | Assam, India |
| Nearest city | Nagaon |
| Coordinates | 26°30′24″N 92°42′38″E / 26.50667°N 92.71056°E |
| Area | 70.13 sq. km[1] |
| Established | 1972[1] |
| Governing body | Department of Environment & Forests, Assam |
Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary (Assamese: লাওখোৱা অভয়াৰণ্য) is a wildlife sanctuary located in the state of Assam in India covering 70.13 km2 (27.08 sq mi) on the south bank of the Brahmaputra River in Nagaon district.[2]
It is a part of the Laokhowa-Burachapori eco-system. The sanctuary is an ideal habitat for Indian rhinoceros and Asiatic water buffaloes. Other animals found here are the Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, Indian boar, leopard cat, hog deer. Over 200 species of birds have been recorded in the sanctuary, including migratory birds.[3]
Laokhowa had more than 70 Indian rhinos in early 1980s which were all killed by poachers. In 2016, two rhinos, a mother and her daughter, were reintroduced to the sanctuary from Kaziranga National Park as part of the Indian Rhino Vision 2020 (IRV 2020) program, but both animals died within months due to natural causes.[4]
It is open for tourists from the beginning of November to the end of April.[5]
