Kaziranga National Park: Recent Visit by Assam Governor

Historical Background

– 1905: First proposed as a Reserved Forest.
– 1908: First notified as a Reserved Forest.
– 1916: Declared as a Game Reserve.
– 1950: Upgraded to a Wildlife Sanctuary.
– 1974: Declared a National Park.
– 1985: Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (WHS) for its unique natural habitat.
– 2006: Declared a Tiger Reserve under Project Tiger.
– Recognised as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International.

Geography and Area

– Total Area: 1,307.49 sq. km (with expansions over time).
– Location: Between Brahmaputra River (north) and Karbi Anglong (Mikir) Hills (south).
– Spread across Golaghat, Nagaon, Sonitpur, Biswanath, and Karbi Anglong districts.
– Ranges: Eastern (Agaratoli), Central (Kohora), Western (Bagori), Burapahar (Ghorakati), and Northern (Biswanath).
– Floodplains: Sustained by Brahmaputra tributaries like Diphlu, Mora Diphlu, Mora Dhansiri, and Difloo.

Flora

– Dominated by tall elephant grasses, cane thickets, and semi-evergreen forests.
– Aquatic vegetation abundant in beels and wetlands.
– Common trees: Sissoo, Indian rosewood, silk cotton.

Fauna

– Indian one-horned rhinoceros: Largest global population (2,613 as per 2024 census).
– Tigers: Third-highest density in India (18.65 per 100 sq. km, 2024 report).
– Other megafauna: Asian elephants, wild water buffaloes, swamp deer (part of Kaziranga’s “Big Five” along with Rhino & Tiger).
– Birdlife: Over 480 species, including migratory birds from Central Asia.
– Microfauna: 2025 survey recorded 283 species of insects and spiders.

Significance

– UNESCO World Heritage Site for biodiversity and conservation value.
– World’s safest habitat for the Indian one-horned rhinoceros.
– A model for floodplain ecosystem conservation and eco-tourism in India.