Kaziranga National Park is located in parts of Golaghat, Nagaon and Sonitpur districts of Assam, India. It was declared as the Kaziranga Proposed Reserve Forest in 1905 due to the Viceroy Lord Curzon of India’s wife Mary Curzon concern about the lack of rhinos. In the year 1916, Kaziranga National park was re-designated as the Kaziranga Game Sanctuary until 1950 when it was renamed as the Kaziranga Wildlife sanctuary. Kaziranga National Park was finally re-designated with the establishment of the Assam National Park act in 1968.
In 1985, UNESCO categorized the park as a World Heritage Site not only for its unique and natural environment but for home to threatened and endangered species in the world.
Interesting facts about Kaziranga National Park:
- Kaziranga was originally 90 square miles in size when it was created in 1905. It expanded over the years until it reached its current size.
- It is home to multiple species of large cats like leopards, Royal Bengal Tigers, boasting highest density of tigers in the world.
- Kaziranga National Park is declared a Tiger Reserve in 2006.
- It is also home to world’s largest population of the Great Indian One-horned Rhinoceros, Wild Asiatic Water Buffalo, Eastern Swamp Deer and Wild Elephants.
- According to latest census reports, the rhino population at the UNESCO world heritage site has risen up to 2,613 from 2,413, recorded in 2018, which is two-thirds of the world’s one-horned rhino population.
- It has been identified as an Important Bird Area by Birdlife International, and is home to a variety of migratory birds.
- It is inhabited by two of the largest snakes in the world, the Reticulated Python and Rock Python, as well as the longest venomous snake in the world, King Cobra.
- It was once home to seven species of vultures, out of which, only four have survived. These are Indian Vulture, Slender-billed vulture and Indian White-rumped Vulture.
You may also like to read: Day of the Wild! World cherishes the World Wildlife Day
- Four major rivers cross Kaziranga National park including Brahmaputra, Diphlu, Mora Dhansiri and Mora Diphlu.
- The landscape of Kaziranga National includes marshes, very dense moist broadleaf tropical forests, elephant grass expanses, rivers, and small water bodies.
- Kaziranga National Park is considered to have achieved a great deal of success in wildlife conservation when compared to India’s other protected areas.
- It is one of the favourites of tourists from India as well as abroad. There are different facilities available for tourists such as elephant safaris or jeep safaris to explore the beautiful den of various creatures.
But one of the biggest concerns the National Park and its inhabitants are facing is river overflowing which lead to death of many innocent creatures.