Kaziranga National Park is located in Assam’s Golaghat and Nagaon districts. Established in 1905, it is the home to about two-thirds of the world’s one-horned rhinoceroses. On 1st January 1974, the Kaziranga was declared as a national park. nIt was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985. It is one of the favourite destinations for wildlife enthusiasts. The Kaziranga National Park is one of the important wildlife reserves of India. It also has the highest population of the Asiatic water buffalo in the world.
In this article, we will talk about the Kaziranga National Park, its History, Geography, Climate, Flora and Fauna, the One-Horned Rhinoceros of the Kaziranga National Park and more about it.
Kaziranga National Park
Established in 1905, and declared as A UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985, the Kaziranga National Park is located in the Golaghat and Nagaon districts of Assam.
It is famous for having about two-thirds of the world’s one-horned rhinoceros. In the world, Kaziranga National Park has the highest population of the Asiatic water buffalo. On 1st January 1974, the Kaziranga was established as a national park.
Given below are a few important details about the Kaziranga National Park.
Kaziranga National Park Overview
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Location
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Assam, India
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District
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Golaghat and Nagaon districts, Assam
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Region
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Asia
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IUCN Category
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IUCN Category II, National Park
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Nearest City
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Golaghat
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Coordinates
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26°40’N 93°21’E
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Area
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1,090 km2 (420 sq mi)
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Established
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1905
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Rivers
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Brahmaputra, Diphlu and Mora Dhansiri
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Fauna found
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Flora found
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- Alluvial savanna woodlands
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History of Kaziranga National Park
In 1904, Mary Curzon, wife of Lord Curzon (who was the Viceroy of India) was disappointed when she failed to spot even a single one-horned rhinoceros in an area known for it, that is Kaziranga.
She then went on to persuade her husband to look into this matter so that the declining no. of one-horned rhinoceros could be controlled and they would be protected. Due to this, the Kaziranga National proposed reserved forest was created on 1st June 1905, with an area of 232 km2.
- 1908-Kaziranga was designated as a Reserve Forest.
- 1916- Redesignated as the “Kaziranga Game Sanctuary” and remained so till 1938, when hunting was prohibited and visitors were permitted to enter the park.
- 1934- Kaziranga was changed to Kaziranha.
- 1950- Given the status of a Wildlife Sanctuary.
- 1st January 1974- Kaziranga National Park was established as a national park.
- 1985- Kaziranga was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- August 2006- With the decline in the tiger population, the Indian government authorized the creation of the Kaziranga Tiger Reserve.
Geography of Kaziranga National Park
Located between latitudes 26°30ʼE and 26°45ʼN and longitudes 93°36ʼE within 3 districts:- in Assam’s Kaliabor subdivision of Nagaon district, Bokajon subdivision of Karbi Anglong and Bokakhat subdivision of Golaghat district.
To ensure that the animals moved safely to the Karbi Anglong Hills and to increase the population of wildlife, more land was added to Kaziranga and it was designated with a separate National Park status as well.
The Brahmaputra River flows through the Kaziranga National Park along with the Diphlu and Mora Dhansiri rivers.
The flowing of Brahmaputra makes the soil of Kaziranga fertile and alluvial. It consists of exposed sandbars, bells chaperonesbellschaperones (which make up 5% of the surface area) and chaperones (elevated regions).
Kaziranga is a biodiversity hotspot. It is surrounded by lush green plantations that boast Assam’s economy.
Climate of Kaziranga National Park
- The Kaziranga National Park experiences all three seasons: summer, monsoon and winter. Beels and Nullahs dry up during winters.
- In the scorching summer between March and May, animals are seen near the water bodies.
- WhilIne- September, it rains so much that around three-fourths of the Kaziranga Park is submerged, due to Brahmaputra’s rising water level, especially between July- August and t.
- Because of this, flooding occurs forcing the animals to migrate to elevated and forested regions outside the southern border of the park, such as the Mikir Hills.
- At times, occasional dry spells lead to a shortage of food and occasional forest fires.
- However, floods play an important part in the maintenance of the tiger reserve’s ecological system.
- The annual flooding leads to soil formation and silt deposition while also maintaining the flora.
- It revives the Kaziranga’s water bodies. Fish also use floodwater as a breeding site.
- However, the annual flooding of the Brahmaputra River poses a significant challenge for the Kaziranga National Park.
Flora of Kaziranga National Park
Within the Kaziranga National Park, due to the difference in altitude between the eastern and western areas of the park, four types of vegetation are found:
- Alluvial inundated grasslands,
- Alluvial savanna woodlands,
- Tropical moist mixed deciduous forests, and
- Tropical semi-evergreen forests.
The Kaziranga National Park also consists of:
- Trees: Kumbhi, Indian gooseberry, the cotton tree and elephant apple to name a few.
- A good variety of aquatic flora.
- Tall elephant grass is found on higher ground, while short grasses cover the lower grounds surrounding the bells or flood-created ponds.
- Annual flooding, grazing by herbivores, and controlled burning maintain and fertilize the grasslands and reeds.
- Common tall grasses like the bells chaperonesSugarcanes, spear grass, elephant grass and the common reed are found along with forbs.
Fauna of Kaziranga National Park
The Kaziranga National Park has the distinction of having two-thirds of the world’s one-horned rhinoceroses. It also has the highest population of the Asiatic water buffalo in the world.
The Indian rhinoceros, Royal Bengal Tiger, Asian Elephant, Wild water buffalo and Swamp deer are collectively known as the ‘Big Five’ of Kaziranga.
- Other animals that can be seen in Kaziranga are Hoolock Gibbon, Tiger, Leopard, Indian Elephant, Sloth Bear, Wild water buffalo, swamp deer, Indian elephants, gaur, and the sambar.
- With the increase in tiger population every year, the government authorities declared Kaziranga a Tiger Reserve in the year 2006.
- Many migratory bird species from Central Asia can also be spotted.
- Small herbivores like Chital, Indian muntjac, Indian boar and Indian hog deer are found as well.
- Otters can be widely seen in Kaziranga National Park
Kaziranga has been identified by Birdlife International as an important bird area, being home to various migratory birds, water birds, predators, scavengers, and game birds.
- Birds like the Eurasian wigeon, gadwall, little cormorant, northern lapwing, Great pied hornbill and wreathed hornbill to name a few can be seen here.
- Some vultures are found as well like the Indian vulture, slender-billed vulture and white-rumoed vulture.
- Game birds like the swamp francolin, Bengal florican and the pale-capped pigeon are found as well.
Apart from these, various snakes inhabit the park like two of the largest snakes in the world, the reticulated python and the Indian rock python are found as well along with the King Cobra, the longest venomous snake in the world.
Various turtles like the endemic Assam roofed turtle and the Brown tortoise are found as well in Kaziranga along with a variety of fishes.
One-Horned Rhinoceros of Kaziranga National Park
There are about two-thirds of the world’s one-horned rhinoceroses in the Kaziranga National Park.
Some distinctive features of the one-horned rhinoceros are:
- One-horned rhinos can be identified by their solitary black horn that is about 9 to 25 inches long and a grey-brown hide with folds in the skin.
- Feed on grasses, tree limbs, fruit leaves, and aquatic plants.
- The IUCN Red List categorizes the one-horned rhinoceros as Vulnerable. They need to be preserved.
Administration of Kaziranga National Park
The Bokakhat’s wildlife wing which (comes under the Assam government’s forest department) is responsible for Kaziranga’s administration and management.
The Chief Conservator, being the Director is the administrative head of the park.
While the administrative chief executive of the park is a divisional Forest Officer who is assisted by two officers with the rank of Assistant Conservator of Forests.
The Range Forest Officers monitor the park area which is divided into five ranges, which are:
- Burapahar (HQ: Ghorakati),
- Eastern (HQ: Agaratoli) and
These ranges are further subdivided into beats, headed by a forester, and sub-beats, headed by a forest guard.
The Kaziranga National Park receives funding from the Assam state government as well as the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change of the Government of India under various Plan and Non-Plan Budgets.
Apart from this, additional funds come through Project Elephant from the Central Government, and national and international NGOs.
Conservation Management
Under the Indian laws for conserving wildlife, the Kaziranga National Park has been granted maximum protection such as the Assam Forest Regulation of 1891 and the Biodiversity Conservation Act of 2002 for protecting the wildlife in the park.
To protect the wildlife in the Kaziranga National Park the below-mentioned measures are undertaken.
- Poaching activities are of major concern in the Kaziranga National Park. Anti-poaching camps have been set up, there is patrolling, intelligence gathering, and control over the use of firearms around the park to reduce the number of casualties.
- Drones have been set up, and monitored by security guards to protect the rhino from armed poachers.
- Heavy rains and flooding are a major concern which impacts the wild animals. To escape the flood-hit, many animals migrate to elevated regions outside the park boundaries where they are hunted, or hit by speeding vehicles.
- At times, they are subjected to reprisals by villagers for damaging their crops. There has been increased patrolling to mitigate these losses. Speed boards have been increased to patrol and provide relief and shelter, artificial highlands are constructed.
- Alongside the National Highway-37, several corridors have been set up for the safe passage of animals which is near to the southern boundary of the park.
- To prevent the spread of diseases and to maintain the genetic distinctness of the wild species, livestock are immunized in the villages nearby.
- Sensitive areas of the park are properly fenced, to prevent encroachment by local cattle.
- The pesticides from nearby tea gardens and petroleum refineries pollute the waters.
- Invasive species such as Mimosa and wild rose have posed a threat to the native plants in the region.
- Due to this, research on biological methods for controlling weeds, manual uprooting and weeding before seed settling are carried out regularly.
- Grassland management techniques, such as controlled burning, are affected annually to avoid forest fires.
Best Time to Visit Kaziranga National Park
Due to monsoon rains, the Kaziranga National Park remains closed from 1st May till 31st Oct every year for accommodation. Therefore, November to April is considered to be the best time to visit the Kaziranga National Park.
- Private resorts are built outside the borders of the park to accommodate tourists along with lodges.
- Elephant and jeep safaris monitored by guides are available that need to be booked.
- In the Kaziranga National Park, one must witness the bird-sighting experience.
- Hiking is prohibited inside the Kaziranga National Park due to human-animal conflict.
How to reach the Kaziranga National Park?
The Kaziranga National Park is well-connected and can be reached via road, railway and airways.
- Nearest railway station to Kaziranga Park: Furkating is located at a distance of 75 km from the park which is well connected by many trains to the major railway stations like Guwahati, Kolkata, New Delhi, etc.
- By Road: Kaziranga is well connected by bus route. The main entry gate of Kaziranga Park is located in a small Kohora town which lies on the National Highway- 37.
- It is well connected to all the major cities of Assam such as Guwahati, Tezpur, Jorhat, Nagaon, Golaghat, Dimapur, Tinisukia, Sivasagar, etc. by the state transport buses or the privately run buses, minibuses and other vehicles.
- Jorhat Airport, 96 kilometres away from the Kaziranga National Park, is the closest airport. The second nearest airport is the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati which is 225 kilometers away from the park.
- Otherwise, tourists can also deplane at Tezpur Airport, which is 59.9 kilometres from the Kaziranga National Park.
- Once inside the premises of the Kaziranga National Park, all travellers can seek support from the authorised guides of the forest department.
- One can book in advance, the Mahout-guided elephant rides and Jeeps or other 4WD vehicle rides.
- These rides start from the Park Administrative Centre at Kohora, followed by three motorable trails that fall under the jurisdiction of three ranges—Kohora, Bagori, and Agaratoli.
- These trails are open for light vehicles from November to April end. Visitors are allowed to take their vehicles when accompanied by guides.
Threats to Kaziranga National Park
The Kaziranga National Park just like several other wildlife destinations in India faces several threats such as:
- Flooding: The large presence of water bodies in the Kaziranga area leads to annual flooding, as it rains non-stop.
- This is because the mighty river Brahmaputra passes through it, affecting mostly the eastern and northern portions of the park. Animals also are forced to flee towards other areas nearby during a flood.
- Soil erosion is another problem in the Kaziranga area during the summer rains.
- Poaching: The one-horned rhinoceroses are hunted and killed by poachers for their horns to make medicines even though this has not been scientifically proven yet.
- Rapid urbanization and infrastructure projects along with the expansion of farmland disturb the natural habitats of the wild species in Kaziranga.
- Human-animal conflict: The rising human population near the park often leads to several instances of human-animal conflict. Especially, when die of flooding the animals move away to other lands where they might be harassed by local people or maybe hit by speeding vehicles.
- Diseases: To prevent the spread of diseases and to maintain the genetic distinctness of the wild species, livestock are immunized in the villages nearby.
- Sensitive areas of the park are properly fenced, to prevent encroachment by local cattle.
- Pesticides from nearby tea gardens and petroleum refineries pollute the waters.
- Invasive species such as Mimosa and wild rose have posed a threat to the native plants in the region.
- Forest fires at times lead to loss of biodiversity at Kaziranga.
Conclusion
The Kaziranga National Park situated in Assam’s Golaghat and Nagaon district has the honour of being a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985. Kaziranga was declared a National Park on 1st January 1974. The mighty Brahmaputra flows through Kaziranga, being one of the major reasons for its lush vegetation and rampant flooding.
What started as Mary Curzon’s request to his husband, Lord Curzon to revive the population of rhinoceroses, now consists of having around two-thirds of the world’s one-horned rhinoceroses. It also has the highest population of the Asiatic water buffalo in the world. Thus, we see how the Kaziranga National Park is one of the most favoured destinations for wildlife enthusiasts.
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FAQs on Kaziranga National Park
Where is the Kaziranga National Park?
The Kaziranga National Park is located in India in the state of Assam, it lies in the Golaghat and Nagaon districts.
Which rivers flow through the Kaziranga National Park?
The Brahmaputra, Diphlu and Mora Dhansiri rivers flow through the Kaziranga National Park.
Why is the Kaziranga National Park famous?
The Kaziranga National Park is famous globally as it contains the two-thirds of the world’s one-horned rhinoceroses. It also has the highest population of the Asiatic water buffalo in the world.
Name some animals found in the Kaziranga National Park.
One-horned rhinoceros, Royal Bengal Tiger, Asiatic water buffalo, are some of the animals found in the Kaziranga National Park.
Name some birds found in the Kaziranga National Park.
Eurasian wigeon, gadwall, little cormorant, northern lapwing are some of the birds found in the Kaziranga National Park.
When can one visit the Kaziranga National Park?
Every year the Kaziranga National Park remains closed from 1st May till 31st Oct, due to monsoon rains for the visitors. Therefore, November to April is considered to be the best time to visit the Kaziranga National Park.
When did Kaziranga become a National Park?
Kaziranga was declared a National Park on 1st January 1974 .
Is Kaziranga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site?
Yes, the Kaziranga National Park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.
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