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Kaziranga National Park & Tiger reserve [MAP]
Kaziranga National Park
Kaziranga was notified as a national park in India on 11 February 1974. Kaziranga National Park spans the Brahmaputra River floodplain across the Assam districts of Nagaon, Golaghat, and Sonitpur. Encompassing 889.51 square kilometers along the river’s southern bank, Kaziranga comprises the region’s largest protected area. The park landscape stretches east to west across flat terrain marked by the Brahmaputra and its tributaries. Kaziranga’s flat wetland location renders it prone to annual flooding.
Area and terrain
Spanning 889.51 square kilometers, Kaziranga National Park comprises expansive grasslands, marshes, and dense forests. The park landscape encompasses varied floodplain habitats along the Brahmaputra River. Wetlands cover 7% of Kaziranga’s area, with grasslands occupying over half the park at 57% coverage. The terrain rises gradually from 55 to 75 meters above sea level. Two hill ranges, Burapahar and Bagori, add diversity to the flat, wetland terrain. Over 60 rivers and streams crisscross the Kaziranga National Park landscape and Kaziranga’s low-lying wetland location renders it prone to annual flooding.
Kaziranga National Park & Tiger Reserve
Kaziranga’s protection originated when Lady Curzon appealed for urgent safeguarding of the dwindling rhinoceros in 1904. Soon declared a Reserve Forest, Kaziranga became a designated Game Reserve by 1916 and then a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1950. Continual conservation culminated with National Park status in 1974 followed by UNESCO World Heritage recognition in 1985. Recently in 2008-09 Kaziranga gained additional Tiger Reserve conservation status. Over a century, Kaziranga’s protection has progressed across a timeline from a Reserve Forest origin to today’s multi-level preservation as a National Park, UNESCO World Heritage Site and Tiger Reserve.
Timeline of Kaziranga from reserve forest to national park to tiger reserve
Year | Milestone |
---|---|
1904 | Origin of Kaziranga’s protection with Lady Curzon’s appeal |
1916 | Designation of Kaziranga as a Game Reserve |
1950 | Declaration of Kaziranga as a Wildlife Sanctuary |
1974 | Kaziranga attains status of National Park in Assam |
1985 | UNESCO World Heritage site recognition for Kaziranga |
2008-09 | Addition of Kaziranga to Tiger Reserves in India |
Key Highlights of Kaziranga
One-horned rhinoceros population
The rhino population in Assam increased from 54 in 1987 to 74 in 1999, with Kaziranga National Park housing two-thirds of the world’s Indian rhinoceros as also found in the study “The current state of rhino in Assam and threats in the 21st century” by Talukdar. Currently Kaziranga harbors two-thirds of the world’s Greater One-horned Rhino, numbering 2,413 rhinos as per the 2018 census. As the globe’s primary one-horned rhino habitat, Kaziranga holds global significance for conserving this IUCN vulnerable status species.
Big Five species
Kaziranga has the highest tiger population in this landscape, followed by Orang. Beyond rhinos, Kaziranga teems with elephants, tigers, and over 500 avian species. The park’s “Big Five” wildlife includes tiger, rhino, elephant, wild buffalo and swamp deer. Kaziranga’s biodiversity encompasses 35 mammal and 15 threatened species. Kaziranga- Orang- Pakke- Nameri block has the largest population of tigers in this landscape and has an estimate of 172 tigers as stated by government of India in its report “Status of Tigers – co-predators and prey in India, 2022”.
Kaziranga acts as source population of tigers in this landscape and islands of the river Brahmaputra act as biological corridors and natural extensions to the population to maintain gene flow between tiger population in this landscape. However, these river islands are also favourable for agriculture and pastures for livestock, and are heavily encroached by human settlements as also noted by government of India in its report “Status of Tigers – co-predators and prey in India, 2022”.
Fauna of Kaziranga
Major Fauna of Kaziranga National Park are listed below in table:
Mammals | Birds |
---|---|
One-horned Rhinoceros, Royal Bengal Tiger, Wild Buffalo, Eastern Swamp Deer, Leopard, Fishing Cat, Large Indian Civet, Small Indian Civet, Sambar, Barking Deer, Hog Deer, Gaur, Hog Badger, Hoolock Gibbon, Capped Langur, Assamese Macaque, Rhesus Macaque, Sloth Bear, Gangetic Dolphin | Bengal Florican, Osprey |
Waterbirds at Kaziranga
The Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve recently conducted its fifth waterbird census in early January 2024, utilizing a citizen scientist program. Results recorded a 27% surge in both resident avifauna and migratory species spotted across surveyed areas. Major wetlands adjoining the Kaziranga Tiger reserve including Hukuma Beel, Joysagar Doloni, Gonak Beel, Sahala Beel, and Sisubari Beel contained sizable populations varying from over 300 to 3000 individuals.
The escalation signals promising conservation headway for the reserve, which the Bombay Natural History Society and BirdLife International designate an “Important Bird Area” sheltering over 500 avian species. Documented populations comprise endangered Gruidae like the Bengal florican (Houbaropsis bengalensis) alongside native Galliformes such as swamp francolin (Francolinus gularis) and diverse Anseriformes.
Flora at Kaziranga National Park & Tiger Reserve
Kaziranga terrain spans extensive grasslands, marshes, and forests. 57% coverage of grasslands provides prime habitat for Indian rhinos and herbivores while 29% woodland coverage offers shelter across deciduous and semi-evergreen patches. Wetlands, occupying 7% of Kaziranga’s expanse, create aquatic bird and fish breeding grounds amidst the floodplain.
Major Flora of Kaziranga National Park consist of moist mixed semi-evergreen forest and moist mixed deciduous forest. Common flora includes Kumbhi, Indian Gooseberry, Elephant Apple, elephant grass, cane and reed varieties plus rosewood trees. Riparian vegetation like Indian fig trees and riverine grasses line water channels. Controlled grassland burns allow new growth sustaining ideal wildlife nutrition at the park.
Rivers and water channels in Kaziranga
Brahmaputra and Diphlu River
The Brahmaputra River forms Kaziranga’s northern and eastern boundaries. Wetlands within Kaziranga gain water from over 60 crisscrossing rivers and streams as well as annual Brahmaputra flooding. The Diphlu River runs through the Kaziranga National Park, adjacent to the Burapahar Range. It serves as a natural boundary, separating the park from the surrounding areas.
Flooding and Impact
Owing to its riverine location, Kaziranga floodwaters submerge 80-90% of the park nearly annually. Kaziranga flooding aids vegetation growth and soil enrichment vital to the ecosystem. However, floods also subject animals to poaching and highway collisions when escaping across NH 715 (earlier NH 37). Lost rhino habitat requires years to recover wildlife-supporting capacity after flooding.
Kaziranga National Park’s Intensive protection strategy
Kaziranga National Park’s intensive protection strategy for Rrhinos, tigers and other wildlife species involves several components, including the establishment of a squad force for anti-poaching operations. Some of the key components of the strategy are:
- Anti-poaching squad force: The anti-poaching squad force in Kaziranga is equipped with weapons to combat poaching. The rangers in Kaziranga rely on weaponry to confront poachers, and the park has been using a combination of modern arms, a special Rhino protection force, and technology to combat poaching. Additionally, the park has been provided with combat and ambush training for its guards and specialist equipment by organizations such as the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). The use of firearms by the forest guards in Kaziranga was authorized in July 2010, providing them with conditional immunity from court proceedings if they are to kill or injure poachers.
- Community involvement: Local communities, including 150 villages and tea estates, are involved in conservation efforts, tourism activities, and management of the tiger reserve.
- Kaziranga Project – Indo-French partnership: The Kaziranga project is a component of the more comprehensive Assam Project on Forest and Biodiversity Conservation, for which the Agence Française de Développement has contributed €80,2 million over ten years, from 2014 to 2024. The Indo-French project aims to aid Kaziranga conservation through initiatives like constructing 35 artificial highlands enabling animal flood escape routes, reforesting 33,500 hectares surrounding the 457 sq km park, erecting 223 anti-poaching camps under protection strategy, and employing infrared early warning systems to steer elephants away from villages. Additional efforts involve promoting alternative local livelihoods to curb poaching drivers and training villagers in harmonious human-animal coexistence near the reserve.
National parks in Assam
S.No | Name of the National Park | Area (Sq.Km.) |
---|---|---|
1 | Kaziranga National park | 858 |
2 | Manas National Park | 500 |
3 | Raimona National Park | 422 |
4 | Dibru Saikhowa National Park | 340 |
5 | Dihing Patkai National Park | 234 |
6 | Nameri National Park | 212 |
7 | Orang National Park | 78 |