Chinese ambassador visits Assam's famed Pobitora wildlife sanctuary

Morigaon: China's Ambassador to India Luo Zhaohui on Monday visited Pobitora wildlife sanctuary, which has the world's densest population of Great Indian one horned rhino, and praised its bio-diversity.

Luo Zhaohui, who is leading a six-member high level official team, appreciated the bio-diversity of the 38.8 sq km sanctuary in central Assam, which has other animals such as leopard, wild boar, barking deer, wild buffalo, birds and reptiles, official sources said.

The Chinese diplomat, however, declined to take questions of waiting journalists on Sino-India relations, the recent visit of the Dalai Lama to Tawang and dams on Brahmaputra in his country.

Zhaohui went around the sanctuary with his wife looking at rhinos and migratory birds in Pobitora which has the world's densest population of the one-horned rhinoceros in only 16 sq km effective rhino habitat, said official sources.

The Chinese ambassador also visited the World War II memorials and monuments in Tinsukia district during his two-day official visit to Assam, the sources added.

Meanwhile, former Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi told reporters that he had raised his concern about the construction of big dams in China whish is affecting the flow of rivers in Assam during his meeting with Zhaohui during the day.

The Chinese ambassador, Gogoi said, had assured him that China would do no such thing and that the dams there will not affect Assam.

Zhaohui also said his country has never given shelter to any Assam-based insurgent outfit, including the Paresh Baruah-led ULFA(Independent, he added.